What is Diabetes?

You’ve heard the term and/or know someone who lives with it, but- what is it really? Diabetes is a metabolic disease in which the body’s inability to produce any or enough insulin, which causes elevated levels of glucose in the blood. Diabetes can also develop when a person’s body develops insulin resistance. Diabetes can be a genetic, an autoimmune or inflammatory disorder.

There are 3 common types of diabetes today: Type I, Type II and gestational diabetes.

Signs and symptoms for diabetes:

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Excessive irritability
• Extreme hunger accompanied by loss of weight (type I)
• Weight gain (type II)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Weakness and fatigue
• Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
• Recurring or hard-to-heal skin, gum or bladder infections
• Blurred vision

As we continue this series, we advise you to please consult with your doctor if you are experiencing any of the above and have concerns over your health. In our next article, we will explore what each of these 3 types mean and how they affect those who live with them.

Are you currently living with diabetes? How does it affect your daily way of life?

Click here to go back to the intro: Diabetes Education Series or continue on to the read about Type 1 Diabetes. 

Teresa Kunath
RN Clinical Specialist