Diabetes Symptoms and Signs In Youths And Adults
According to the American Diabetes Association, 16 million Americans have Diabetes.
Diabetes is a serious disease because of its harmful effects on the body. Half the people who have it don’t even realize they have it.
Every year nearly 170,000 Americans die from diabetes.
There are two reasons that diabetes causes a problem for the human body. Either the body has insensitivity to the insulin produced, or the body cannot produce enough.
In a healthy body, glucose is derived from the food we eat and insulin transports it into cells where it provides energy for daily life. Diabetes prevents the glucose from entering the body’s cells and thus it simply stays in the blood unable to complete its function. High levels of glucose in the blood can cause damage to many of the body’s organs and requires immediate attention.
The good news is that diabetes, while not curable, can be treated. With early diagnosis, many of its complications can be avoided.
Types of Diabetes
There are three types of diabetes, Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational. Type 1 usually affects children and young adults. It’s when the body does not make any insulin.
Type 2 ordinarily affects adults over 45. With type 2 diabetes the body does not make enough insulin. (Insulin is a hormone needed to change sugar, starches and other food into energy.)
Gestational diabetes can develop in women during pregnancy. This happens when a pregnant woman’s body can’t make and use all of the insulin needed during the pregnancy. Otherwise known as hyperglycemia.
The most common type of diabetes is type 2. Of the total people who have diabetes, 95 percent have type 2. Even if you have no signs of diabetes, it is wise to consult a doctor if your children or any other blood relative has diabetes or any sign(s) of diabetes.
Signs of Diabetes In Youths And Adults
Vision changes, frequent urination, a constant feeling of thirst, fatigue or extreme weight loss are all signs of diabetes. While the disease can manifest in any person, Hispanics, African Americans and American Indians are more prone to develop it.
There are also many risk factors for the condition, including having a child over 9 pounds, being over 45 years old, having a parent with the disease, or weighing 20% more than you should for your height and sex. Lack of exercise is another large risk factor for diabetes.
Diabetes in children and teens is known as Juvenile diabetes. There are a variety of symptoms for juvenile diabetes, including dramatic weight loss, extreme thirst, often for sweet or cold drinks, hunger beyond normal, weakness, feeling of tiredness, vision changes, restlessness or irritability, frequent urination or bed wetting, and nausea or vomiting. In the worst cases, diabetic coma may be the initial sign of Type I diabetes. Unsurprisingly, children experiencing these symptoms may have difficulty in school.
Diabetics not only suffer from the disease itself, but can also suffer from complications, including heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and amputations. In the extreme, it can even result in death. Therefore, it is critical to recognize any signs of diabetes as soon as they appear.
