In diabetes mellitus, the glucose level in the urine and blood is high. A high level of blood sugar is due to deficiency of insulin, the hormone that facilitates the entry of glucose in body cells. This occurs when the pancreas fails to produce sufficient insulin or due to antibodies that are formed in the blood which interfere with the normal functioning of the insulin. In either case, there is a high level of glucose in the blood.

Diabetes generally appears as polyuria (frequent urination) and polydipsia (increased thirst). It is always essential to check for diabetes if a person is suffering from any ailment and is not recovering fast; particularly those approaching 40 should and must check for diabetes every year.

1. Diabetes may cause itching of vulva in women and inflammation of the glans penis in men.
2. You may lose weight inspite of normal or increased appetite.
3. You may have a variety of infections like tuberculosis, infection of kidney (pyelonephritis).
4. You may have retinal detachment or even loss of vision, may develop infection in the feet which may turn into gangrene and require amputation if the disease is not checked in early stage.
5. You may have aches or pain in the body, weakness, a boil or carbuncle of skin which does not heal rapidly.
6. There is an increase in still births of pregnant women in a diabetic condition. The child born could be heavy (over 10 lbs. at birth).
7. Diabetes can complicate arthritis.
8. It may cause amenorrhea (stopped periods).

If you have a high glucose level in the urine and blood, the most important thing to do is to control the diet. Cut down sugar completely, this will bring down the sugar level to some extent, increase physical activity, do walking, jogging, exercises and if sugar is still high then probably you will need some medicine for the time being, but if you supplement the effort with controlled diet and increased exercise you can gradually cut down medicine and be able to completely stop it in most cases. Manage you diabetes for a healthier life!