Question: What are the signs of diabetes?
Dr. Hibberd's answer:
Diabetes occurs when the body has insufficient insulin to function normally. This is either because the body doesn't produce enough insulin — as in Type 1 diabetes, usually diagnosed in children and adolescents — or because of increased insulin resistance — as in Type 2 diabetes, most often associated with obesity and diagnosed in adults.
Some signs and symptoms of diabetes are:
- Increased appetite (polyphagia).
- Increased urination (polyuria), particularly at night.
- Sugar cravings.
- Fatigue, lethargy.
- Headaches, confusion, insomnia.
- Muscle aches, decreased physical endurance or stamina.
- Blurred vision, retinopathy, blindness.
- Obesity, elevated triglycerides.
- Impotence, loss of libido.
- Renal failure.
- Frequent infections, decreased immunity associated with hyperglycemia (elevated blood glucose), recurrent vaginal yeast infections.
- Coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke.
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