What is it?

In its most common form diabetes is a metabolic disorder resulting in abnormally high levels of glucose ["sugar"] in the blood. This high level is the result of the pancreas [a pear shaped organ located just below the stomach] not producing enough of a special hormone [called Insulin] needed to transfer energy from the body blood to the body cells. In some rare cases diabetes might also be caused by the failure of other glands than the pancreas to produce vital body hormones.

What are the Symptoms?

Frequent and excessive urination-sometimes as often as every hour or so, day and night. The excessive loss of fluid creates extreme thirst; sometimes the drinking of sweetened beverages even increases the urination and the thirst. Other symptoms might be dry skin, weakness, dizziness, fatigue. Extreme emergency symptoms are dehydration, unconsciousness, etc.

What should one do?

Make an appointment with the Hospital for a Diabetes check up. The examination will include taking a fasting blood sample, a urine sample, a chest x-ray, and an Electro-Cardiogram. The "fasting" implies that the patient should refrain from eating and drinking 8-12 hours prior to the start of the examination.