How Do I Know If I Have Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic, debilitating, and often deadly disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it does produce. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that helps sugar (also known as glucose) exit the blood and enter the cells of the body where it may be used as fuel. There are two types of diabetes. When a person has type 1 diabetes, their pancreas does not produce the insulin they need. In type 2 diabetes, their body cannot make effective use of the insulin they produce.
The symptoms of uncontrolled type 1 diabetes are:
• Excessive thirst
• Frequent urination
• Sudden weight loss
• Extreme fatigue
• Blurred vision.

People with type 2 diabetes may have the same symptoms, but they may be less apparent.

Having diabetes means a total life change for the patient and the ones who care for them. However, many people do not understand the disease, what causes it, or how to keep their blood sugar (glucose), blood pressure, and blood fat levels as close to normal as possible.

Normal blood glucose levels should be between 70 and 110 and a normal hemoglobin A1c test is below 7 percent (ADA) and below 6.5 percent in Europe.

-drhinkes