But, how are you supposed to know if you aren't producing insulin? It's not like you can call down to your pancreas and say "hey, everything good in there" and it will magically call back "yep, we're good... just busy producing insulin."

The best thing you can do is know what to look for. But, keep in mind that symptoms of diabetes aren't always obvious. There aren't always red flags. Sometimes symptoms can take a really long time to develop. Sometimes there aren't any symptoms. (I know, that's not what you want to hear.) Also important to know is that just because you may have some (or all) of these symptoms doesn't mean you actually have diabetes. But, it's better to be safe than sorry, so if you have two or more symptoms, take a minute to call your doctor or an endocrinologist and talk about your concerns. The earlier diabetes is diagnosed, the greater your chances are of beating it.

Frequent Urination
The porcelain thrown has recently become your best friend? That's probably because your body doesn't like these high levels of glucose in your bloodstream. So, in an effort to flush out the excess sugar, your kidneys start working overtime. And, overworking kidneys are a sure way to keep you running for the restroom.

Increased Thirst
This probably has something to do with your frequent restroom visits. To help rid your blood of the excess glucose, your kidneys are pulling water from your bloodstream. The water helps to dilute the glucose and flush it out in your urine. But, because you are constantly losing water, you are thirstier than normal. It's your body's way of telling you it needs more H2O.

Intense Hunger
Your cells aren't getting the energy they need from your food. (Remember, the glucose can't get into the cells without insulin and your body isn't using insulin properly right now.) As a result, your body is screaming "feed me!' It just needs more energy.

Weight Gain
Your pants feeling a bit snug today? This is likely a result of the 'intense hunger' we talked about above. Intense huger = eating more food = extra calories = weight gain. Sorry.

Extreme Weight Loss
This is more noticeable in patients with Type 1 Diabetes because it has more of a sudden onset. Because your body isn't producing insulin, your cells aren't getting the nutrients they need to survive. So, your body streets to break down your muscle and fat cells to get the energy it needs. This causes you to lose weight.

Fatigue
Simply stated, your body isn't getting the energy it needs to survive.

Irritability
Most people get cranky when they are tired, hungry, thirsty and gaining weight.

Infections
The more sugar you have hanging around in your bloodstream, the harder it is for your body to heal from infections. Diabetics are more prone to suffering from frequent skin, gum, bladder and yeast infections.

Itchy Skin
We don't know for sure why, but sometimes itchy skin is a symptom of diabetes.

Unhealed Cuts
If your cuts and bruises are taking longer to heal than usual it may be a result of diabetes. Having a lot of sugar in your blood makes it harder for your body to heal itself.

On their own, these symptoms are harmless - which is probably why many people are completely clueless that they have diabetes. However, if diabetes goes untreated, it can lead to some very serious health conditions including stroke and heart disease.

Your doctor can usually tell if you have diabetes from a simple urine test. All the doctor needs to know is if there is extra sugar in your urine. Following a positive urine test, the doctor can perform a blood test to confirm the diabetes. It's not worth the risk. If you think you have some of the symptoms of diabetes, call your doctor and schedule an appointment today.

By Tami Ropelato

Diabetes is becoming an increasingly common condition in the United States. This may be due to our fast pace, challenging lifestyles.

Some of us don't feel that we have the time to focus on healthy eating and convenience food is becoming increasingly prevalent. The problem with a lot of this type of food is that it is largely unhealthy. Yes it may be convenient to grab a pizza or a burger, but this type of eating behavior compounded over time, may have negative consequences for your health. One such related problem is diabetes. Individuals are becoming increasingly concerned about this condition and are looking for the facts relating to diabetes symptoms.

Diabetes is the seventh highest cause of death of adults in the United States. This is a staggering figure made worse by the fact that many of these deaths could be avoided with the right diagnosis, treatment and lifestyle change. Good diet and weight can help remove most of the complications associated with diabetes. Leading a healthy lifestyle can also significantly reduce the risk of actually developing diabetes. You following points are regarded as common diabetes symptoms:

Type 1 Diabetes
• Excessive and frequent urination.
• Unquenchable thirst.
• Increased appetite and excessive hunger.
• Constant tiredness and increased irritability.
• Unexplained weight loss.

Type 2 Diabetes. Can include any of the above symptoms in addition to:
• Reduced immune system - increased illness and infection.
• Slow healing cuts, wounds and bruises.
• Problems with blurred vision.
• Repeat infections. Particularly skin, mouth, bladder and yeast infections.
• Pins and needles in hands and feet.

It is also worth noting that some sufferers of Type 2 Diabetes may not display any symptoms what so ever. If you have experienced any of the above symptoms you should consult with your physician immediately. Your physician will be able to use one or all of the following tests to establish a diagnosis:

• A random plasma Glucose test. This test measures the blood glucose levels in the body. You do not need to fast unlike the two tests below. This test is used in conjunction with an assessment of your symptoms.

• A oral glucose tolerance test. This test requires you to fast for 8 hours prior to the test. You are provided with a glucose based drink 2 hours prior to the reading. This test can establish if you have diabetes or pre diabetes. Pre diabetes means that you are at risk of developing Type1 and Type 2 diabetes.

• A fasting plasma glucose test. This test required you too fast for 8 hours. Again this test is used to diagnose both pre diabetes and diabetes.

By Kathie Dionisio

Read this article to know about Type 1 Diabetes Causes and Type 1 diabetes Treatment
We can call Type 1 diabetes an autoimmune disease in which the body destroys or damages insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Once those cells are destroyed, they won't ever create insulin again. This type of diabetes usually occurs under the age of 30 and often in childhood.

Type 1diabetes may also be known by a variety of other names, like insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), juvenile diabetes, brittle diabetes, sugar diabetes. Type 1 diabetes accounts for 5 to 10 percent of all identified cases of diabetes in the US.

Type 1 diabetes normally develops in children or young adults, but can found at any age. Type 1 diabetes can cause many problems. It is a life-long disorder that can happen in children or adults. It is a totally different disease than Type 2. Type 1 diabetes occurs normally in children, adolescents or young adults, and most often at puberty. This type of diabetes is also called insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes symptoms:

Type 1 diabetes often appears abruptly. However, each individual may experience symptoms in a different way. Type 1 diabetes symptoms may include:

o high levels of sugar in the blood and urine when tested
o unusual thirst
o frequent urination
o extreme hunger but loss of weight
o unclear vision
o nausea and vomiting
o extreme weakness and tiredness
o bad temper and mood changes

In children, type 1 diabetes symptoms may be alike to those of having the flu.

Type 1 Diabetes Complications:

Type 1 diabetes can cause different problems, but there are three key complications:

1. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar; also called an insulin reaction) occurs when blood sugar drops too low level.

2. Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) occurs when blood sugar is too high, and can be an indication that diabetes is not well forbidden.

3. Ketoacidosis (diabetic coma) is loss of consciousness due to untreated diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes Causes:

Type 1 diabetes is the result of the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that allows glucose to enter the cells of the body to provide fuel. Insulin is a protein that is speedily broken down in the digestive area. In type 1 diabetes, the body can no longer create insulin, so the glucose can't acquire into the body's cells.

Although no one knows for certain why this occurs, scientists think it has something to do with genes. But just getting the genes for diabetes isn't usually sufficient. A person most likely would then have to be exposed to something else - like a virus - to get Type 1 diabetes

It's important to also be alert of the different myths that over the years have arise about the Type 1 diabetes causes. Eating sweets or the wrong kind of food does not cause diabetes but it can cause obesity which is the cause of Type 2 Diabetes.

Stress does not cause diabetes, although it may be a cause for the body turning on itself as in the case of Type 1 diabetes. It does, however, make the signs worse for those who already have diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes Treatment:

Type 1 Diabetes Patient need to monitor and control their glucose levels. They need to:

o test blood sugar levels a few times a day by testing a small blood sample
o give themselves insulin injections or use an insulin pump
o eat a balanced, healthy diet and pay special attention to the quantities of sugars and starches in the food they eat and the timing of their meals
o get habitual exercise to help manage blood sugar levels and help avoid some of the long-term health problems that can cause diabetes like heart disease

Insulin therapy is the origin of type 1 diabetes treatment. When insulin was first discovered and made accessible for people with diabetes, there was only one type of fast-acting insulin and this required several injections in a day. Today, there are a variety of insulins that can be selected and/or combined to help you best control your diabetes.

The author has an exclusive website on Diabetes Information. To get complete details on Type 1 Diabetes Causes visit http://www.diabetesmellitus-information.com/

By Dr. John Anne

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most serious diseases that is typified by having too much blood sugar in the body. These high sugar levels occur because the body produces insufficient amounts of the hormone, insulin or insufficient cells to be targeted by insulin.

Diabetes is categorized in different types, namely type 1 diabetes, type 2, type 3 and the one that is called gestational diabetes. Pancreatic failure is what helps doctors diagnose the type of diabetes that a patient has. The cause of a particular type of diabetes is usually identified during the course of treatment. The type of diabetes is sometimes hard to classify because there are many common symptoms for 2 different types of diabetes.

Diabetes can easily be detected by testing the level of blood glucose. Diabetes has symptoms, however, the symptoms for diabetes is also associated with the symptoms of other diseases. Below are some of the usual symptoms that a diabetic experiences.
1. Urinating more frequently than normal, especially at night. People often neglect this symptom; they will approach their doctor only if this symptom gets out control.
2. Sudden weight loss. If you are not on a diet but you are constantly losing weight, you better consult your doctor about it. This is just one of the symptoms for diabetes but it can also be a symptom for other diseases, so you better visit the doctor to make sure.
3. Slow healing of wounds, especially in the feet and ankle area.
4. Blurred vision, lack of sensation on the skin and itching of the hands and feet are also a very important symptom that a person should not ignore. Persons who are suffering from this symptom should consult the doctor immediately to get their blood sugar levels checked. Everyone must take a blood glucose test, especially those who have history of diabetes mellitus in his or her family. Diabetes is a hereditary disease that could have been passed on in the genes your family for generations.

The symptoms for type 1 and type 2 diabetes are different. The symptoms for type 1 becomes obvious in just a few weeks while the type 2 is extremely noticeable and they develop over a long period of time. This disease should be detected immediately so that the victim of the disease can get proper treatment to save him from having very serious complications.

Diabetic symptoms are generally the result of these blood sugar level fluctuations. Diabetic symptoms are mirrored in Type I and Type II diabetes with only a few exceptions.

Type I diabetes, or insulin dependent diabetes, produces such diabetic symptoms as unusual thirst and increased urination, extreme hunger, unexplained weight loss, blurry vision, and unrelieved fatigue. Type II diabetes, also known as insulin resistance, is characterized by diabetic symptoms such as unusually long healing time, nerve damage, red and swollen gums, extreme fatigue and weakness (flu-like symptoms), in addition to the symptoms of Type I diabetes. Most individuals who suffer from diabetes, ninety to ninety-five percent, have Type II diabetes.

As mentioned above, diabetic symptoms are the result of the body’s inability to produce or to use insulin. Maintaining abnormally high or abnormally low levels of glucose in the blood can cause a host of symptoms that range from merely unpleasant to life-threatening. Because glucose is a major source of fuel for the body, its body’s ability to process this fuel efficiently is very important. When the body fails to process or produce glucose properly, the organs and bodily systems (the brain, kidneys, liver, cardiovascular system, muscles) that rely on glucose are adversely affected.

Diabetic symptoms may result from blood sugar that is too low or from blood sugar that is too high. Diabetic symptoms that result from persistent hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) include increased thirst and urination and can result in serious kidney problems up to and including kidney failure. Too much glucose in the blood reduces the amount of water in the body’s cells and results in extreme thirst. The water consumed is then excreted through the kidneys along with the excess blood glucose. Blurred vision is also a result of this imbalance in water stores. Because glucose is the body’s fuel, being deprived of that fuel, either because the body cannot process the glucose or because the body fails to maintain the proper levels of glucose, muscles can become tired and weak for lack of fuel causing the individual to feel fatigued. Because the muscles are deprived of fuel, the individual may feel excessively hungry (the body’s signal that the muscles need fuel) but may lose weight despite normal or above normal food consumption because glucose is expelled in the urine as opposed to being used to fuel the muscles resulting in the actual wasting away of muscle and fat. Abnormally high or abnormally low blood sugar levels will affect the brain and the processes it regulates. Diabetic symptoms are really a domino effect resulting from extreme fluctuations in blood glucose levels.

All of the diabetic symptoms can be successfully managed using a rigorous self-care plan of diet, exercise and insulin. Careful monitoring of blood glucose levels will help prevent complications of diabetes such as blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage, cardiovascular disease, infections, seizures, coma, and even death. The successful management of diabetic symptoms requires constant vigilance and self-education to recognize when the symptoms may need more than self care and trip to the doctor or hospital is advised. Individuals who are intent on managing their diabetes will find a wealth of information designed to ease the transition to a diabetic lifestyle.

Diabetes Symptoms in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
In diabetes, the symptoms can vary depending on whether a person has type one or type two diabetes. Before diagnosis the symptoms may be more obvious, but after treatment and the glucose levels are more stabilized, diabetic symptoms will often reduce or go away.

However, type 2 diabetes can be sometimes so subtle that there are no noticeable symptoms, and hence is only diagnosed with a blood test. In this article, let's look at the symptoms can be present in diabetes, both type 1 (insulin dependent) and type 2 (non insulin dependent) diabetes.

The symptoms on type 1 diabetes
In type 1 or insulin dependent diabetes, the symptoms are serious and very severe when the illness starts.
The symptoms include the following:

1. Excessive thirst and excessive drinking
2. Excessive urination, otherwise known as polyuria
3. Loss of weight
4. Excessive hunger and eating. Notice how it's a condition where despite eating more, there's weight loss.
5. Feeling unwell, getting infections
6. And type 1 diabetes can present as diabetic ketoacidosis. In this state, the sugar levels are very high, there's acidosis in the blood, and even collapse and coma.

Treatment is needed in type 1 diabetes and can't be reversed with 'lifestyle changes'.

The symptoms on type 2 diabetes
The symptoms in type 2 diabetes include the following:

1. Increased thirst and drinking
2. Increased urination
3. Recurrent infections such as skin infections egg fungal or bacterial amongst others
4. Long term complications of diabetes.

Long term consequences of diabetes include heart conditions, deteriorating eye health, kidney disease, peripheral vascular disease (blockages to arteries in egg the legs causing pain in the legs during walking), and peripheral nerve disease.

Many people at risk of type 2 diabetes are also overweight and have other associated conditions such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia.
In type 1 especially, the symptoms are serious and can be life threatening. It's important to seek medical care immediately.
In type 2 diabetes, it can present with similar symptoms or sometimes more subtle symptoms.