Symptoms Of Adult Diabetes

Adult diabetes is another name for type 2 diabetes or non insulin dependent diabetes. The name was probably given to differentiate it from juvenile diabetes that tended to occur in young people. Juvenile diabetes is now called type 1 diabetes or insulin dependent diabetes. The names of these diseases have changed because it is not really the case that children only get type 1 diabetes and people in their 30's can acquire type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes differ in one crucial aspect. In type 1 diabetes the pancreas does not produce insulin, in type 2 it does, but it is not effective and the body is said to be insulin resistant. Insulin is needed to help convert glucose in the bloodstream into energy and in the process reduce the level of sugar in the blood. When somebody has diabetes they can't do this. High levels of blood sugar for any length of time can result in serious health problems.
Symptoms of diabetes type 2 are often hard to determine by the individual because they can be mild or sporadic. In some cases people that are type 2 diabetics will be unaware of it for years.
Some of the classic symptoms that may occur are :
Increased and excessive thirst or polydipsia
Increased hunger
Frequent and excessive urination or polyuria
Dry mouth
Constant tiredness and feeling weak
Nauseous or feeling like vomiting
Numbness in feet or hands
Frequent infections or susceptibility to cuts and grazes
Blurred vision
A person that has type 2 diabetes could have one or all of these symptoms. As you can see early symptoms of adult onset diabetes could be mistaken for a heavy night out, stress at work or some kind of infection.
The best way to confirm if you have the condition is to consult a doctor. The method used to diagnose the disease is to take a blood test. A common blood test for diabetes is the fasting plasma glucose test. The test is done after a period of about 8 hours when nothing has been eaten. This gives a clear indication that the glucose in the the blood is being reduced or otherwise.
Symptoms of adult diabetes are hard to determine so it makes sense to check any concerns you have with a doctor or incorporate it into any regular check ups. For example, getting an eye test or check up that is recommended once a year can be used to check that you don't have diabetes. An Optician can check the retina for any unusual damage that can lead to the detection of diabetes.
Treatment for adult diabetes is based around regular exercise and a well balanced diet. Find out more about diabetic diet plans at http://www.diabeticdietsplan.com
The site deals with diabetic foods and diabetic cooking ideas. Adrian Whittle writes on issues related to diabetes including diabetic retinopathy and diabetic neuropathy.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adrian_Whittle