Diabetes in adults has signs that you should be able to spot. Diabetes is a condition that can be life-threatening, so it's important to know what the symptoms or signs are. Diabetes is a disease in which the blood has too much sugar, which is a sign or symptom of diabetes. Diabetes can be caused by either not having enough insulin in the body or not being able to use insulin. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that controls how much sugar is in the blood. About 17 million adults in the United States have signs of diabetes.
There are three main types of diabetes:
- Type 2 diabetes, which affects most adults, makes up about 90% of all cases of diabetes. Most of the time, the pancreas doesn't make enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels normal because the body doesn't use the insulin it makes very well. Adult diabetes and Type 2 diabetes symptoms are becoming more common as the number of older Americans, people who don't exercise, and people who are overweight grow.
- Type 1 diabetes is usually found in children and young adults. The body makes very little or no insulin, so the person needs insulin shots every day to stay alive.
Gestational diabetes is when a woman who doesn't have diabetes but is pregnant gets high blood sugar.
Here are some of the most common signs that an adult has Type 2 diabetes:
- Need to drink more
- It's Hard to See
- Male Impotence
- Fatigue
- Having a bigger appetite
Infections That Take a Long Time to Heal
- More Frequent Urination
How does an adult know if the signs of diabetes they are feeling are really signs of diabetes? Doing a blood test called the fasting blood glucose level test is the best way. Diabetes is found if two of these tests show that the blood glucose level is higher than 126 mg/dL. If the levels are between 100 mg/dL and 126 mg/dL, this is called impaired fasting glucose or prediabetes, and it is a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes.
How does one try to get their blood sugar and diabetes under control? Even though there is no cure for diabetes, the main goals right now are to keep blood sugar stable and get rid of any sign or symptom of diabetes or high blood sugar. Long-term, the goals of treatment are to lengthen a person's life, ease the symptoms of adult diabetes, and prevent problems like heart disease and kidney failure that can happen as a result.
If an adult has signs of diabetes, they should work closely with their doctor to keep their blood sugar levels in a safe range. Also, the more you know about a sign or symptom of diabetes and how to treat it, the more you can do to improve your health by making changes to your lifestyle. The good news is that Type 2 diabetes may respond to treatment with exercise, diet changes, and weight management, as well as oral medications.
