Being informed about the signs and symptoms of diabetes mellitus is very important. Knowing what to watch for is vital in getting on the right road to a healthy life.

Diabetes mellitus is a disease affecting millions and millions of people in the United States and other countries. Catching the disease in enough time to adjust to it is key to fending off consequences of the symptoms. Left unchecked this disease, in all its forms, can lead to heart disease, poor joint health and circulation, blindness and stroke.

There are three classifications of diabetes mellitus. The first is Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, formerly known as juvenile diabetes. This disease classification affects between 5-10% of the diabetes community. Type 1 diabetes mellitus patient’s bodies do not produce enough insulin, which is a hormone that is needed to convert sugars and starches and other foods into energy. Some of the symptoms of this classification of diabetes mellitus are frequent urination, be unusually thirsty, extremely hungry, have unusual weight loss and show extreme fatigue and irritability. Insulin is used to treat this condition.

The second is classification of diabetes mellitus is Type 2, also known as adult onset diabetes. This disease classification is the more common form of diabetes affecting millions of Americans. This diabetes type is more prevalent in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians as well as the older community. In this type of diabetes mellitus, the body either does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin it does produce. Some of the symptoms of this condition are frequent infections, blurred vision, cuts and or bruises that are very slow to heal, may experience a tingling and or numbness in the hands and or feet and have some recurring skin, gum and or bladder infections and may also include all or some of the symptoms from Type 1 diabetes mellitus. In this case the insulin taken is used to utilize the glucose from food to avoid a build up of glucose in the system. This build up of glucose causes serious complications.

The third classification of diabetes mellitus is gestational diabetes. This form of diabetes mellitus is developed in a pregnant woman who has never had diabetes.

Determining the existence of diabetes mellitus is a matter of taking a blood test.