Table of Contents
There is so-called classical triad of diabetes symptoms:
- Polyuria- frequent urination
- Polydipsia - increased thirst
- Polyphagia - increased appetite
When the glucose concentration in the blood is high, re-absorption of glucose in the patient’s kidneys is incomplete, which means that one big part of the glucose remains in urine. This condition is called glycosuria. The problem with this condition, besides sweet urine, is that it increases the osmotic pressure of the urine and inhibits the re-absorption of water by the kidney. This results in increased urine production (polyuria), and also causes dehydration and increased thirst.
When the concentration of glucose in blood is too high and prolonged, it can lead to several complications, including vision changes. Blurred vision is a common complaint leading to a diabetes diagnosis.
Diabetic ketoacidosis
A patient not regulating blood sugar properly can lead to a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis, an extreme state of metabolic dysregulation. In most cases it is characterized by:
- A smell of acetone on the patient's breath
- Kussmaul breathing
- Polyuria
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
Statistics
Diabetes affects nearly 21 million people in the United States, and 230 million people worldwide, according to the American Diabetes Association and the International Diabetes Federation. Diabetes is in the top 10, and perhaps the top 5, of the most significant diseases in the developed world, and is gaining in significance there and elsewhere.