There is no question more commonly asked in the field of diabetes than, how do I know if I have diabetes. Within this article we are going to help outline first, what diabetes is, how you can tell if you have diabetes and what you can then do about it. Diabetes has become something of an epidemic in the United States today and the more you know about this condition the more prepared you can be in your own life in terms of your personal health as well as the health of those close to you. Diabetes is most definitely a condition that you can live with when you understand it fully. Let’s start by saying, there is no age you can reach that diabetes cannot develop.

First and foremost, it is essential to understand that there are three different types of diabetes. First, there is pre-diabetes, Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes. The term pre-diabetes has been coined in relation to the early onset of Type 2 diabetes, the only way to recognize this stage of diabetes is to be aware of the symptoms. To date there are over 41million people in the United States alone suffering from pre-diabetes and many of these people may not even know it. Because pre-diabetes occurs only before the onset of Type 2 diabetes, the majority of men and women within this group are between the ages of 30-50years old. Type 2 diabetes does not inflict people younger than 30years old.

Question: How do I know if I have diabetes?

Let’s go through the warning signs of pre-diabetes:

Higher than normal blood glucose levels

• Extreme thirst
• Excessive urination (causing you to get up in the middle of the night)
• Blurred vision at times
• Unexplained weight loss or gain

These are by far the most common signs of pre-diabetes but one of these symptoms alone cannot certainly determine the onset of Type 2 diabetes. A combination of at least 2 of these symptoms is required for your doctor to begin considering the development of Type 2 diabetes. If you are fortunate to catch these warning signs in time there are ways to reverse the onset of Type 2 diabetes. Immediate change of lifestyle is required in order to get your blood sugar levels back in check and weight loss is most likely required at this stage as well.

Moving on to Type 2 diabetes or otherwise known as adult-onset diabetes how is this form of diabetes defined? Generally, men and women over the age of 40years old are the ones at direct risk of Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes accounts for over 90% of all diabetes cases in the USA today; this is saying something. This form of diabetes can be determined by lifestyle factors as well as health factors where Type 1 diabetes is not influenced by your lifestyle at all. With this being said, obesity is a major contributing factor to Type 2 diabetes. Between Type 2 diabetes and obesity rates rising in North America today it is clear why Type 2 diabetes cases are also on the rise.

Research has shown that although genetic factors do play a role with Type 2 diabetes, the biggest contributing factors are poor diet and lack of exercise. We tend to consume a diet plan that is high in fat and low in carbohydrates and this is a recipe for Type 2 diabetes. This most common form of diabetes develops because your body stops producing the insulin or when the insulin is produced your body no longer utilizes it properly. This form of diabetes can take years to develop. The symptoms include:

Extremely high blood glucose levels

• Extreme thirst
• Fatigue
• Constant urge for urination
• Blurred vision
• Slow healing wounds
• Frequent infections
• Dizziness
• Unexpected or unexplained weight gain
• Increased hunger

This is list is quite similar to that of Type 1 diabetes which is why it can be so different to determine the type of diabetes. Age is a very serious determining factor as you can imagine.

Lastly, we need to discuss and outline Type 1 diabetes which is also known as juvenile diabetes. Within this condition the body actually destroys any insulin that is made to the point where the pancreas no longer produces insulin at all. The majority of young people suffering from Type 1 are placed on a strict insulin treatment plan. The lack of insulin being created causes excessive amounts of glucose to remain in the blood stream, therefore causing out of control sugar levels. In order to even be considered for Type 1 diabetes you first have to be within the proper age group which is birth to 30yeard old. The symptoms are the same as with Type 2 diabetes except as a Type 1 patient you do not experience infections or slow healing wounds.

Now when you ask yourself, how do I know if I have diabetes, the answer can be clearer. You need to take a close look at yourself and the symptoms you are experiencing. Any one of the symptoms is not enough but a combination of two or more can be a tell-tale sign of pre-diabetes, Type 1 diabetes or most commonly Type 2 diabetes. It becomes extremely important for men and women in their 40’s to really pay attention to their health and their lifestyle. If you are currently living an unhealthy lifestyle there is no time better than the present to do something about it.

If you step back and look at your life and see that you are consuming an unhealthy diet, you are not taking part in exercise of any kind and therefore you overweight, this is the recipe for Type 2 diabetes. As stated earlier, over 90% of diabetes cases in the USA today are Type 2 and in order to avoid this in your own life, changes must be made.

You can’t possibly know for sure without visiting your physician and having your blood sugar tested.  Speak with your physician today if you have concerns about your health.  Perhaps after reading this information about how do I know if I have diabetes that you will know the signs and then take your concerns to your doctor.