Symptoms/Diagnosis
By Debra Manzella, R.N., About.com Guide to Diabetes
The symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes vary in some ways and are similar in others. Gestational diabetes and pre-diabetes may differ from Type 1 and Type 2. Diagnosis is not always straightforward. What are the right tests that your primary care physician should be doing? What should you be looking for?
Types of Diabetes
There are two main types of full-blown diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes are completely unable to produce insulin. People with type 2 diabetes can produce insulin, but their cells don't respond to it. Pre-diabetes means that the cells in your body are becoming resistant to insulin and your blood glucose levels are higher than they should be. Gestational diabetes appears in women with no previous history of diabetes, usually during the last half of pregnancy.
Diabetes Risk Factors
There are many risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Some of them come from our family history and genetics, but some can be turned around to help reverse or prevent the disease.
Complications
Short-term complications of diabetes, such as hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and ketoacidosis, can happen quickly. Patients need to be aware of their signs and symptoms and what to do to reverse them. Long-term complications, such as heart disease, kidney disease, and neuropathy, can seriously compromise a patient with diabetes.
