3 signs that you have diabetes

Diabetes can be stress-related or hereditary. We list the three main symptoms of diabetes and why it is important to get yourself tested for it.

Diabetes can happen to anyone, even young children. Most people mistakenly believe that it develops only in people who are overweight or who lead a sedentary lifestyle. Though these are contributing factors, they are not the only reasons one gets diabetes. It can be a hereditary problem, or stress-induced or even a sudden malfunction of the pancreas that process glucose in the blood. 

The following are three symptoms of diabetes you must watch out for:

1 Excessive thirst and frequent urination

Since the body is unable to process glucose as effectively as it should, the excess glucose stays in the bloodstream. Glucose is obtained from food sources, primarily. Since the glucose levels start increasing in the bloodstream, the body tries to adjust by flushing it out through the urine. This does two things: cause more frequent urination, and deplete the body’s water levels, thus leading to increased thirst. Often, drinking more water to aid the removal of glucose helps, though it also means more trips to the bathroom.

2 Feeling tired even after resting well

High amounts of glucose in the blood can make the blood ‘sluggish’. What this means is that the blood circulation slows down as blood begins to saturate with excess glucose. Thus, blood cells cannot get enough oxygen and nutrient processing also takes a beating. This induces feelings of tiredness, muscle exhaustion, apathy towards life and even difficulty waking up in the morning. It should be a cause for concern if you have noticed your energy levels dipping recently for no apparent reason, or if you are groggy even after having coffee or if you fail to wake up at your usual time in the morning.

3 Genital itching or thrush

Excess glucose in the urine causes a fair few problems in the genital area. It can help existing yeast cells thrive – yeast thrives on sugars – and cause such conditions as bacterial vaginosis in women or thrush (in both sexes). Also, the excess glucose creates an ideal environment for bacteria in the urine to feed off it and multiply very fast. Hence, the bacteria grows in large amounts and the genital area starts itching. Often, the itching and soreness is due to conditions like thrush. 

If you notice any of these symptoms of diabetes, get a blood test done and seek help from a specialist at once. Type II diabetes is often irreversible but it may be controlled with the right treatment and proper diet. Meanwhile, get a daily nutrition chart from a good dietician, take your meds regularly, exercise daily and inform your health insurance providivspan>