How to Differentiate Between Common Diabetes Symptoms

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Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Diabetes affects millions of adults in the United States, and the numbers continue to rise. Many individuals overlook the early diabetes symptoms. These indicators can mimic other common ailments. Seeing a doctor allows you to determine the cause, and it leads to an accurate diagnosis.

Understanding Diabetes Basics

Your body breaks down food into sugar and releases it into your bloodstream. When your blood sugar goes up, it signals your pancreas to release insulin. Diabetes occurs when your body does not make enough insulin, or it cannot use the insulin well.

Common diabetes symptoms include increased thirst, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue. While type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune reaction, type 2 develops over time and can be the result of unhealthy weight gain. Genetics plays a role in both types, but lifestyle can also influence Type 2 risk. Some symptoms of diabetes can present similarly to other conditions, and getting evaluated by a doctor can help differentiate between the potential causes of the symptoms.

Analyzing Frequent Urination

Frequent urination is a symptom of diabetes that involves a need to relieve yourself more than usual. Your kidneys work harder to filter excess glucose when you have diabetes. This process draws fluids from your tissues; it leads to dehydration. This cycle continues until you manage your blood sugar.

Other conditions can trigger this specific symptom as well. Doctors treat UTIs with antibiotics, but other causes require different approaches. Possible causes for urinary urgency include:

Enlarged prostate
Overactive bladder syndrome
Pregnancy

An enlarged prostate may need medication, or surgery might be the best option for relief. Pregnancy causes pressure on the bladder, which results in more bathroom trips. Discuss these patterns with a doctor if they seem to be worsening, and mention them if they disrupt your daily life.

Examining Blurred Vision

High blood sugar levels with diabetes can cause diabetic retinopathy, a condition that weakens the blood vessels in the retina. This condition has two stages, and in the final stage, it can cause the retina to detach or even cause permanent blindness. Symptoms such as blurred vision, night blindness, or floaters can be signs of diabetic retinopathy. Not everyone with diabetes has diabetic retinopathy, and there are treatments to limit its progression and severity.

Eye strain, on the other hand, causes things to look blurry when you stare at screens too long. Cataracts cloud the lens, and dry eyes cause irritation that disrupts sight. A healthcare provider can determine the root cause through a comprehensive exam. A prescription lens update fixes refractive errors, while drops alleviate dryness.

Identifying Numbing Sensations

High blood sugar can damage nerves throughout your body over time. This damage is called diabetic neuropathy, and it commonly affects the legs and feet. You might feel pain, tingling, or numbness in your extremities when this happens. Early treatment prevents further damage, but ignored symptoms may lead to complications.

Other medical issues present with similar sensations. Carpal tunnel syndrome compresses nerves in the wrist, causing numbness; vitamin B deficiencies can also cause numbness in the hands. Physical therapy helps some nerve issues, but vitamin deficiencies require dietary changes. Treating the underlying condition relieves the discomfort, although recovery takes time.

Learn More About Diabetes Symptoms

Understanding the source of your symptoms is one way to seek out appropriate care. Many conditions share indicators like frequent urination, but a medical professional can clarify the diagnosis. Proper management of disease and illness addresses the root issue. If you want to learn more about the treatment and diagnosis of diabetes, consult a healthcare provider near you.