What is Diabetes

Diabetes is a problem in which the body does not use sugars in food properly. It can lead to blindness, loss of limbs, coma, or even death. Type 1 diabetes usually starts in childhood. People with Type 1 diabetes need to take a medicine called insulin their whole lives. Type 2 diabetes usually starts when a person is over 40 years old. It is most common in people who are very overweight.

A woman can also develop diabetes during pregnancy. This is called gestational diabetes. If you are pregnant and are always thirsty or are losing weight, see a health worker to test your blood for sugar.

What are Signs of Diabetes

Early signs:

always thirsty
urinates often and a lot
always tired
always hungry
weight loss

Later, more serious signs:

itchy skin
periods of blurry eyesight
some loss of feeling in the hands or feet
frequent vaginal infections
sores on the feet that do not heal
loss of consciousness (in extreme cases)

All these signs may be caused by other diseases. To find out whether you have diabetes, see a health worker, or do not eat for 8 hours and then go to a laboratory to get a test for fasting blood glucose (sugar). If your sugar level is over 125 on two separate tests, you have diabetes.

Sources

Burns, A. A., Niemann, S., Lovich, R., Maxwell, J., & Shapiro, K. (2014). Where women have no doctor: A health guide for women. Hesperian Foundation.
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