Diabetes in the African American Community – Part 3: Symptoms/Treatment
by CK Dillon · Filed Under: African American Baby Boomer Health Alert
This is for all the “real men” out there who don’t get check-ups.
How often do we, or someone we know, get a headache, complain about blurred vision or feel like we need a quick pick-me-up? Usually we’ll take an aspirin, apply eye drops, gulp down an energy drink, etc., anything to make us feel better, if only temporarily.
These remedies, for the most part, are effective. But when our home remedies don’t correct the ailment we may need to get another opinion. A professional opinion . . . like, hmmmm, maybe a doctor’s?
That’s where, for many in our community, and I’m guilty of it too, the buck stops. We, especially men, tend to do it later; we’ll get around to it or say, “I know how I feel.” Until one of the women in our lives says something, or puts her foot down, we will do nothing.
Yes, I have used excuses instead of handling my business too . . . until I had a rather serious ailment that I initially tried to treat with cough drops, etc.
After my wife insisted that what I was doing wasn’t working, I had to consult with a doctor. Now I have to say, that method is not good enough. We really need to get a handle on our health and become pro-active.
Today’s article is a brief run-down of symptoms of Diabetes. These symptoms usually develop over a short period of time and may seem minor at first.
Some Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes
- Constant or Increased hunger, even after a good meal.
- Significant or Unexplained loss of Weight
- Increased thirst
- Frequent or increased urination
- Blurred vision
- Extreme fatigue
- Dry mouth.
- Headaches.
- An additional symptom of Type 1 Diabetes: loss of consciousness; rare but very serious.
Treatment:
People with Type 1 diabetes must take insulin for the remainder of their lives. If a person has type 1 diabetes and is not diagnosed and treated, they can lapse into a coma or worse.
Some Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes are the same symptoms as Type 1, but also include:
- Feeling ill
- Frequent infections
- Slow-healing wounds
- Frequent yeast infections
- Itchy skin around the vagina and groin area, that is not cured by thrush medication.
- Weight gain.
- Decreased vision
- Impotency.
- Boils (higher blood sugar levels provide food for bacteria)
- Evidence of bruising
- Acanthosis nigricans: Light-brown-to-black, velvety, rough areas, or increased skin markings on the back and sides of the neck, armpits and in the groin.
Treatment:
- Until recently, Type 2 diabetes typically developed in people who were middle aged and could usually be controlled by diet and drugs. In some cases people may have to take insulin as well. Type 2 diabetes is rapidly becoming detectable in children as young as adolescent.
To contact the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) for more resources on preventing and/or controlling diabetes:
- Call 1-888-693-6337
- Website: Http://YourDiabetesInfo.org.
Information for this article was researched an adapted from information including but not limited to the following:
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
- National Diabetes Statistics, 2007. Bethesda, MD:
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
- National Institutes of Health 2008: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/statistics/
Hope this article helps in some way. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms on a regular basis, quit “being a man” and get yourself checked out.
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Thanks for reading.
“Good Health and Success are a Lifestyle . . . Let’s Choose to Live Well,”
CK Dillon
Contact: Charles@CreateVitality.Com
On the Web: Http://CreateVitality.Com
Home Remedies, thanks for the good info and for taking the time to comment.
Diabetes sufferers may show symptoms that include fatigue or being constantly tired due to the body’s inability to convert food to energy, which is what fuels the body to be active. Since this illness makes the body unable to process the food that is being eaten, a person loses weight. A diabetic person suffers from frequent urination, feeling thirsty all the time.
Thank you Tandurust and Diabetes Symptoms for the comments and the education. Keep up the great work.
Cure in type 1 diabetes is limited to symptomatic treatment and maintenance of blood sugar levels with insulin. As management of type 1 diabetes is completely dependent on exogenous insulin in most of the cases. The ideal treatment would be to allow the person to lead a completely normal life, to remain not only symptoms free but in good health, to achieve a normal metabolic state and to escape the complications associated with long term diabetes.
Diabetes in children is not much associated with weight. Passage of excess urine and thirst are the initial symptoms. Abdominal pain, vomiting and dehydration may develop gradually. Development of the diabetic child is slower than other children.