Recognizing Diabetes Symptoms
Author >> Michael WebbIf you happen to be a diabetic or know one who is, recognizing what diabetic symptoms are is important. This is also true if you have a strong family history of diabetes; you\'ll want to be aware of the symptoms in case you develop the disease, too.
It\'s important to know that not all cases of diabetes will show diabetes symptoms unless the diabetes is severe. Others will have early symptoms that can be picked up if one is vigilant. For example, one symptom of early diabetes is that of episodes of 'low blood sugar', also called hypoglycemia. With this symptom, a person will experience shakiness, sweating, hunger pangs and dizziness because the insulin has overshot the target blood sugar.
Those with diabetes symptoms related to very high blood sugar often feel a general sense of illness, weight loss and nausea. They can also feel dizzy or light-headed. When these symptoms occur, the blood sugar is often greater than 300 mg per deciliter but can be as high as 600 milligrams per deciliter. Blood sugars above 600 milligrams per deciliter can cause an altered sense of consciousness and a diabetic coma.
Those with Type I diabetes have slightly different diabetes symptoms. These individuals have some of the same symptoms of Type II diabetes but can get into much more severe symptoms such as diabetic ketoacidosis. This occurs when byproducts of metabolism, called ketones, build up in the body. This causes stomach pains, generalized loss of consciousness and coma, which can be fatal. Type I diabetics can also have symptoms of low blood sugar if they take too much insulin.
