10 Warning Signs of Diadetes Mellitus

There are some warning signs and symptoms associated with diabetes mellitus which the sufferer must be familiar with, or as an individual you must be aware of these signs so you should know what to do in case you have them. So many people end up with the complications of diabetes either because they neglected the warning signs and symptoms or because they never knew the implication of such negligence.
Knowing some of these warning signs and symptoms would enable you act promptly to find out if what you have is diabetes, or to prevent complications from setting in. These warning signs and symptoms include:
1. Excess urine: A high amount of water is needed to eliminate free-flowing glucose from the blood stream or the kidneys as a result of the high molecular weight of glucose. The individual has the frequent urge to pass urine and in most cases the quantity passed is high. This condition is termed ‘polyuria’.
2. Glucose in urine: The renal tubular re-absorption of glucose is impaired as a result of excess glucose in the blood. This leads to the excretion of some quantities of glucose in the urine. This condition is referred to as glucosuria.The patient may suspect that he has glucose in his urine if he sees ants gathering round his urine each time he urinates.
3. Dehydration: As the patient continues to excrete high amount of water he becomes dehydrated. Dehydration presents with sunken eyes, dry lips, loss of skin turgidity, etc.
4. Excess thirst: Patient feels thirsty most of the time as a result of the quantity of water he loses through frequent urination. The body tries to create a balance; there is therefore the urge by the patient to drink more water to compensate the one the body is loosing. This in medical terms is referred to as polydipsia.
5. Hunger: The body is deprived of the glucose needed for its normal metabolic activities. Since glucose is not made available the body is deprived of energy. The body,s energy demand has to be met. Therefore, the patient feels hungry frequently and tries to eat in order to meet this energy demand.
6. Blurred vision: Excess sugar in the blood impairs capillary blood supply to the eyes. This in turn leads to visual impairment. Excessive sugar in the blood stream can also be deposited on the retina which obscures the patient’s vision.
7. Itching in the vulva: Itching of the vulva (pruritus vulvae) is very common in female diabetics. In most cases, it is due to the heavy growth of fungi such as candida albicans around the vulva which now thrive on the excess glucose deposit on the vulva. The itching can be troublesome leading to minor injuries resulting from scratching and these minor injuries could become infected if not properly cared for.
8. Loss of weight: The breaks down its fat and protein stores in order to meet the body’s energy requirement which can no longer be met by the body’s glucose. This makes the patient become weak and lose weight. Continual breakdown of fats and proteins lead to a rise in the level of ketone bodies in the blood which in turn leads to keto acidosis, resulting in hyperventilation, loss of water, sodium and potassium from the body.
9. Weakness: Weakness usually comes as a result of starvation of the body, breakdown of fats and proteins, as well as loss of fluids and electrolytes.
10. Numbness of the extremities: The individual experiences numbness and tingling sensation of the limbs as a result of peripheral neuritis (inflammation of a nerve of the extremities with pain, tenderness, and loss of function)