Symptoms of diabetes can vary from subtle to very dramatic in nature, depending on the individual and the type of diabetes he or she suffers from. Symptoms of diabetes also vary depending on the chronicity of the disease and resulting complications. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to some very serious long-term symptoms and complications.
Common Symptoms of Diabetes
1. Kidney failure
2. Blindness due to damage to retina
3. Gangrene
4. Damage to nerves due to diabetic neuropathy
5. Heart problems including heart attack
6. Stroke
7. Chronic diarrhea
8. High blood pressure
9. Infections
10. Poor wound healing
11. Unexplained weight loss
12. Excessive thirst (polydipsia)
13. Excessive urination
14. Excessive eating
15. Altered mental status (agitation, irritability, inattention, confusion)
16. Blurred vision
17. Athlete’s food
18. Abscess formation
19. Thrush
20. Foot tingling
21. Hand numbness
22. Erectile dysfunction
23. Malaise
Diabetes Treatment Options
The treatment of diabetes is highly variable and individualized and depends on the type of diabetes—type 1 or type 2—the presence of other concurrent medical problems like heart disease, presence of complications due to diabetes, and overall general health and age of patient. Varied treatment plans are ordered by medical providers based on these and other factors. It is the patient’s responsibility to seek out treatment and remain compliant with treatment orders to get the best results.
To get an appropriate treatment plan a person suffering from diabetes needs to give their medical provider a complete and detailed history, then undergo a physical examination. Laboratory tests are often required to check blood sugar and other levels to establish the diagnosis. The key objective to any diabetes therapy is blood sugar control. Therefore, a healthcare provider will typically order a comprehensive plan to meet this daunting task. Once a diagnosis is established, patient education and counseling is mandatory as successful treatment of diabetes solely depends on the full compliance of the patient.
Insulin is frequently required in the treatment of diabetes and usually a combination of short-acting and long-acting insulin is given. Most patients are able to inject insulin themselves and initial demonstration of proper injection techniques is usually sufficient to enable the patient to inject insulin at home. Dose adjustment is often required and it may take few weeks until the appropriate dose for any diabetic individual can be tailored according to their needs. Your healthcare provider will ask you to keep record of your blood glucose level to help adjust your dosage.
Losing extra weight, regular exercise, and healthy diet are also all important for successful management of diabetes beyond just prescription medication. Diabetes patients are also advised not to miss their insulin and other medications, or alter the dosage on their own, as this could lead to severe complications like hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.
To ensure optimal treatment, diabetes patients should see their healthcare provider on regular basis to make sure their diabetes is well controlled and if insulin levels needs to be adjusted or not. Successful management and treatment of diabetes is led by healthcare professionals, but the ultimate success depends on the patient and their compliance with treatment ordered by their providers.