The usual definition of diabetes is having too much glucose in your blood.
How much is too much? Well, the World Health Organisation lowered the threshold some time ago, 1997, as people were being found to have diabetes, despite being under the blood sugar level associated as being normal.
In my case the symptoms were as follows:
1. Fatigue
I was working in a job which required a lot of physical exertion, and had been for over twenty years. So it was no surprise to me that I needed to shut my eyes for a few minutes ever afternoon.
Many people find, as they get older, that they get tired more easily. I found this at just 46, but thought nothing of it.
2. Irritability
I hardly noticed, but my kids now assure me that I was getting more and more bad tempered with those around me, especially at home. My wife had told this to me, but I just didn't listen. Indeed we divorced because of it, and at the time I still thought nothing was wrong with me.
I didn't realize at the time, but stress and the resulting irritability are symptoms of type 2 diabetes, though being bad tempered does not mean that you are diabetic!
3. Blurred vision.
I had noticed for some time that my sight was slightly blurred, but linked this to an eye test reminder from my optometrist. My glasses may need changing, so I put it down to this.I noticed that my eyes were a little out of focus at times. I got some eye drops but these did nothing. My optician had sent me a reminder to have my eyes tested and my prescription updated. I has worn reading glasses for some time, and just thought the blurred vision was due to that.
Things came to a head when one morning I woke and all I could see were blobs of colour, but no definition of anything.
This was when I finally went to the doctor and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Blurred vision is a result of sugars building up in the fluid in the eye, which then distorts the lens, resulting in blurred vision.
4. Thirst
Why I didn't see the doctor when this happened I don't know. I was drinking somewhere around 5 gallons of water a day, and had a thirst like an itch that wouldn't stop. Drinking literally felt ecstatic. The problem was, I had to visit the bathroom every half hour or so.
Thirst is another symptom of diabetes, as the body dehydrates as the kidneys attempt to flush out the excess blood sugar in the urine.
The bottom line here is that like many people, I do not want to visit the doctor unless I k now there's something seriously wrong.
However, the consequences of untreated diabetes, foot amputation, blindness and renal failure for example are too terrible to contemplate.
How much is too much? Well, the World Health Organisation lowered the threshold some time ago, 1997, as people were being found to have diabetes, despite being under the blood sugar level associated as being normal.
In my case the symptoms were as follows:
1. Fatigue
I was working in a job which required a lot of physical exertion, and had been for over twenty years. So it was no surprise to me that I needed to shut my eyes for a few minutes ever afternoon.
Many people find, as they get older, that they get tired more easily. I found this at just 46, but thought nothing of it.
2. Irritability
I hardly noticed, but my kids now assure me that I was getting more and more bad tempered with those around me, especially at home. My wife had told this to me, but I just didn't listen. Indeed we divorced because of it, and at the time I still thought nothing was wrong with me.
I didn't realize at the time, but stress and the resulting irritability are symptoms of type 2 diabetes, though being bad tempered does not mean that you are diabetic!
3. Blurred vision.
I had noticed for some time that my sight was slightly blurred, but linked this to an eye test reminder from my optometrist. My glasses may need changing, so I put it down to this.I noticed that my eyes were a little out of focus at times. I got some eye drops but these did nothing. My optician had sent me a reminder to have my eyes tested and my prescription updated. I has worn reading glasses for some time, and just thought the blurred vision was due to that.
Things came to a head when one morning I woke and all I could see were blobs of colour, but no definition of anything.
This was when I finally went to the doctor and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Blurred vision is a result of sugars building up in the fluid in the eye, which then distorts the lens, resulting in blurred vision.
4. Thirst
Why I didn't see the doctor when this happened I don't know. I was drinking somewhere around 5 gallons of water a day, and had a thirst like an itch that wouldn't stop. Drinking literally felt ecstatic. The problem was, I had to visit the bathroom every half hour or so.
Thirst is another symptom of diabetes, as the body dehydrates as the kidneys attempt to flush out the excess blood sugar in the urine.
The bottom line here is that like many people, I do not want to visit the doctor unless I k now there's something seriously wrong.
However, the consequences of untreated diabetes, foot amputation, blindness and renal failure for example are too terrible to contemplate.
About the Author:
Diabetes can lead to unemployment, if insulin is taken. Certain jobs become illegal for a diabetic. This has led some to investigate how to claim bankruptcy. This ought to be a last resort, but offers a financial clean slate, thus reducing diabetic stress. If you are facing redundancy due to insulin, visit www.howtoclaimbankruptcy.net.
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