Stages of Diabetes are very different depending on how long the individual has had the disease, as well as the type of Diabetes Mellitus. Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes will develop suddenly, while signs of Type 2 will appear gradually, but will present as the same symptoms. Many times, the individual may have Diabetes-especially Type 2-for an extended time and not even know it. According to the American Diabetes Association, there are currently over seven million people with Diabetes Mellitus that are unaware they have this deadly disease, while seventy-nine million are pre-Diabetic.
The beginning stages of Diabetes may be termed pre-Diabetes as processes in the body are starting to show signs of insulin resistance, but there is still hope for the individual in preventing the disease from full onset. Researchers have confirmed that patients that are in this category can easily prevent Diabetes by altering their lifestyle in a few ways. First, they can lose 5-10% of their overall body weight, if they are overweight or obese. In addition, adding thirty minutes of daily cardiovascular activity can helps the production and absorption of insulin and glucose, as well as strengthening the muscles and joints. Finally, replacing fatty and sugary foods with nutritious plant based foods and eliminating caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco are methods proven successful at preventing this disease.
Early Stages of Diabetes
In the early stages of Diabetes, an individual will probably not notice any change at all. At this point, a person is starting to become insulin resistant from lack of exercise, high blood glucose levels, and other risk factors such as high cholesterol, triglycerides, and low LDL cholesterol. As insulin is needed for the transfer and conversion of nutrients into the muscles, fats, and tissues for energy, the body will require more and more insulin over time.
The next stage of early Diabetes, called Hyperfiltration affects the kidneys. The excess sugar in the blood will increase the blood volume to the kidneys, thus making them larger. When the person regains control of his or her blood glucose level, the size of the kidneys will return to their normal size. The last sign of the early stages of Diabetes is Microalbuminaria, which occurs when the kidneys leak tiny amounts of blood protein called Albumin into the urine. As the amount of Albumin increases, a person enters the late stages of Diabetes.
Last Stages of Diabetes
The last stages of Diabetes are when the disease progresses and this time is when people start to notice that something is wrong. They usually experience a combination of excessive thirst and a need to urinate. These symptoms are due to the extra sugar in the blood and urine, which the kidneys are trying to flush out. A person becomes dehydrated causing them to drink and urinate more frequently. Around this time, a person may notice other symptoms like increased appetite, blurred vision, mood swings, and recurrent infections, which should lead to a Diabetes diagnosis.
The doctor and patient will work together to determine a treatment plan for diet, exercise, and medicine, if necessary. Controlling one’s blood glucose level is the best option. If it is not controlled, the individual will enter the final stages of Diabetes, which includes nerve damage and impaired functions of the eyes, heart, and kidney in addition to numerous other complications.
