Learn more about Diabetes
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Here you can find more information about diabetes, its types and symptoms. We have also provided a list of supplemental resources if you are looking to learn more about diabetes in men's health.
About Diabetes
Diabetes can strike anyone, from any walk of life. And it does – in numbers that are dramatically increasing. Today, more than 30 million children and adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed with diabetes. Worldwide, more than 422 million people have diabetes.
Diabetes is a serious condition that causes higher or lower than normal blood sugar levels. Diabetes occurs when your body cannot make or effectively use its own insulin, a hormone made by special cells in the pancreas called islets (eye-lets). Insulin serves as a “key” to open your cells, to allow the glucose to enter -- and allow you to use the glucose for energy.
Without insulin, there is no “key.” So, the sugar builds up in the blood. The result: the body’s cells starve and die from the lack of glucose. The high level of blood sugar can damage eyes, kidneys, nerves, and the heart. Very high blood sugar levels can also lead to coma and death.
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are the most common forms of the disease, but there are also other kinds, such as gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy, as well as other forms. [1]
Diabetes Symptoms
If you have any of the following diabetes symptoms, see your doctor about getting your blood sugar tested:
Urinate (pee) a lot, often at night
Consistently thirsty, even after drinking water
Lose weight rapidly without trying
Are very hungry
Have blurry vision
Have numb or tingling hands or feet
Feel very tired
Have very dry skin that does not improve with lotion
Have sores that heal slowly
Have more infections than usual
Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes
People who have Type 1 diabetes may also have nausea, vomiting, or stomach pains. Type 1 diabetes symptoms can develop in just a few weeks or months and can be severe. Type 1 diabetes usually starts when you’re a child, teen, or young adult but can happen at any age.
Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes symptoms often develop over several years and can go on for a long time without being noticed (sometimes there aren’t any noticeable symptoms at all). Type 2 diabetes usually starts when you’re an adult, though more and more children, teens, and young adults are developing it. Because symptoms are hard to spot, it’s important to know the risk factors for Type 2 diabetes and visit your doctor if you have any of them.
Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) usually shows up in the middle of the pregnancy and typically doesn’t have any symptoms. If you’re pregnant, you should be tested for gestational diabetes between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy so you can make changes if needed to protect your health and your baby’s health. [2]
Other Resources
We have provided a list of other resources where you can learn more about diabetes and ways to manage it through changes in your daily life-style. Learn more>>