Risk Factors and Symptoms
Are you at risk to develop diabetes? You may be if you are:
- overweight
- sedentary – you don’t get enough exercise!
- of Hispanic, American Indian or African American heritage
or if you have:
- had gestational diabetes
- delivered a nine pound or larger baby
- other family members who have diabetes
If you are at risk, you need be aware of the symptoms of diabetes. Symptoms are subtle, and are often mistaken for other illnesses, or just ignored as part of “getting older”. Common symptoms include:
- frequent need to urinate
- extreme thirst
- dry mouth
- cuts and bruises that take a LONG time to heal, more than a few days
- excessive fatigue
- unexplained weight loss OR
- inability to lose weight, even when on a restricted calorie diet
- constant numbness or tingling in your hands and feet
- blurry vision, and a rapid deterioration in your eyesight
Symptoms that occur for women only include:
- continued and constant yeast infections
- lack of desire
Strangest symptom by far:
- pink “mold” growing at the waterline in your toilet bowl! This is actually a yeast mold caused by the excess sugar in your urine.
There is some good news: most of these symptoms go away once you get your diabetes under control!
Tomorrow: My Own Story, and What to Do If YOU Have Symptoms
Keeping the Faith 