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[E20]Early Warning Signs Of

by Andrew Bicknell, And

In the United States alone there is an estimated 17 million people that suffer from diabetes. Of those 17 million who suffer this disease nearly 5.9 million have not been medically diagnosed. The reason for this could well be that many of the early warning signs of diabetes are shrugged off by those who suffer them because the symptoms do not seem that severe.

Even when those who heed the early symptoms of diabetes do go to the doctor they often express disbelief that they are diagnosed as being diabetic. In the early stages of diabetes the symptoms can be more of a minor annoyance, leading those who are diagnosed saying things like "I don't feel sick". In fact many people are diagnosed with diabetes when they visit the doctor because they think they have something else wrong with them. Many of the early signs of diabetes are often attributed to some other ailment or condition.

The sooner the symptoms of diabetes are recognized and diagnosed the better the chances of a managing this condition and avoiding many of the serious and sometimes life threatening complications this disease can bring. Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death by disease in the United States today.

The American Diabetes Association has a list of the early warning signs of diabetes and they include:

1. Increased Urination - This is caused by high blood sugar levels which increase the amount of blood that flows through the kidneys.

2. Excessive Thirst - The increased output of urine can lead to dehydration.

3. Extreme Hunger - Because diabetes is characterized by a lack of insulin or insulin resistance glucose is unable to cross over from the blood stream into the cells where it is needed for energy production. The body thinks it's hungry because of the energy deficit and manifests hunger pangs.

4. Unexplained Weight Loss - The body will start to break down its own proteins (muscle) and fat to make up for the perceived lack of cellular energy. This despite the fact that the person is actually eating more.

5. Fatigue - Caused by the decreased energy levels.

6. Irritability and Depression.

7. Vision Impairment - An increase in blood volume caused by high blood glucose levels can lead to swelling of the eye's lens.

Taken by themselves, or even as a group it is easy to see why these diabetic symptoms could be seen as part of any number of other conditions that can cause them. Everyday stress can cause fatigue, irritability, and depression. Depression is known to cause weight loss. Many of these signs and symptoms start out small; barely noticeable and as time progresses many people don't actually see the changes because of the slow rate at which they occur.

These symptoms will get progressively worse as the affects of the diabetes creates a variety of complications that affects many of the bodily systems. It is important to note that these symptoms will not resolve themselves.

The sooner one can recognize the early warning signs of diabetes the sooner they can seek medical attention. Diagnosing diabetes early is key to successfully managing its long term affects. There is no known cure for diabetes but with lifestyle changes and proper medical treatment it can be controlled and its affects minimized.

When used according to your health care provider's instructions, prescription drugs are beneficial and help the body to recover, deal with pain, and fight infections, sickness, and disease. Yet most prescription drugs are addictive or habit forming by nature. Your first step is to thoroughly read through any literature that accompanies your medication to make certain that you are using it correctly. It is also important to recognize the warning signs of becoming addicted so that you can address these should they occur. What might be the greatest danger surrounding prescription drugs, is the fact that people can become addicted without ever realizing it.

Addiction to prescription medication often happens innocently. A person is in pain, or sick, and visits their health care provider. He or she leaves the office with a prescription for medication that is effective but also habit forming. The medicine should be taken for a short period of time, and then discontinued to prevent becoming addicted. However, the person develops a dependency upon the prescription medication and suddenly cannot function in their day-to-day activities without the assistance of the drug. In fact, it doesn't take long before the symptoms of addiction begin to manifest, including adverse reactions and withdrawal symptoms. It is often the negative aspects of withdrawal that causes a person to sink deeper into a prescription drug addiction.

If you find that you are constantly craving your prescription medication, or feel that you can't function without it, there is a good chance that you are addicted. One of the main signs that you have an addiction to prescription medication is finding the need to use several physicians or health care providers to access the medications you need. You might feel that there is nothing wrong with this behavior, and not recognize it as an addiction. You might truly believe that you are suffering from chronic pain and that your physician doesn't understand the nature of your condition and isn't treating you adequately. Once the physician determines that enough medication has been prescribed, the addicted person will seek another supplier, or health care provider who will prescribe more medication.

Once the addiction becomes severe, the person might change their behaviors and stop socializing with friends and family members. They may even begin to feign illnesses and conditions in an attempt to have more medication prescribed. The addiction then strongly resembles any other type of addiction, where the person is seeking any method possible to obtain their prescription drug of choice. If you or someone you know is dealing with an addiction to prescription drugs, it is imperative that help is sought immediately. With treatment and therapy, the addiction can be managed and overcome.

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Both Andrew Bicknell & Robert Thomson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Andrew Bicknell has sinced written about articles on various topics from Mortgage Insurance, Dieting and Medical Condition. To learn more about the please visit the web site. Andrew Bicknell's top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.

Robert Thomson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Personal Desktop, Finances and Pets. Mehudin Lawrence is considered to be an expert on drug addiction and has published various articles on this subject. He also publishes web articles on topics such as. Robert Thomson's top article generates over 450000 views. to your Favourites.