Caution! Diabetes Ahead!

By Ned Dagostino

Most of us think of diabetes as a disease caused by eating a lot of sugar. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, diabetes is a grave condition which affects the composition of our blood, the very element of life. Diabetes is the condition where the body's ability to regulate the amount of glucose in the body is seriously impaired. The basic composition of the blood is highly altered and this affects almost every aspect of our health and life. It cannot be stressed enough that you should look out for the early warning signs of this horrible, life-altering condition. The sooner you recognize diabetes, the sooner you can get it treated, and the easier it will be on all concerned.

One of the early warning signs of diabetes is thirst, frequent and powerful thirst. The body tries to compensate for the altered blood composition by copious drinks of water. Another early warning sign is violent nausea. The stomach-turning nausea is not due to eating anything disagreeable or toxic. Attendant symptoms are a feeling of breathlessness, dizziness, and anxiety.

Diabetes leads to neuropathy, a condition where the nerves are damaged. Neuropathy may show itself by eye and vision problems. A closer examination will reveal retinal damage, leading to impaired sight.

The digestive system is very susceptible to diabetes-induced neuropathy. Flatulence, hyperacidity, diarrhea, and constipation are warning signs of diabetes. The nerves that control the bladder may also suffer functional impairment, leading to frequent urgent urination, with embarrassing consequences at times.

The abnormal composition of the blood in a diabetic situation obstructs the normal healing process to such an extent that even small cuts and bruises either take a long time to heal or do not heal at all. A small cut or injury will turn into an open wound, and if not properly cared for, may begin to fester. This is another sign of diabetes lurking around.

The symptoms are a natural follow-on to excess glucose levels in the blood. But taken individually they are fairly common symptoms which are often associated with mild conditions or mild diseases like flu. So the patient never even suspects diabetes and hence completely ignores the possibility. This leads to ignorance of the disease in the early stages.

If someone really close to you exhibits any one of these symptoms, or you do yourself, then it is best that you take this seriously and get a medical opinion on it. The medical practitioner is best able to diagnose your condition. If he advises a glucose test, have it done. The sooner diabetes is diagnosed the better for all concerned. Turn the searchlight on the lurker and drive him out into the open! - 29887

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