Diabetes is a killer disease. It can lead to kidney failure, heart disease, neuropathy, blindness, and much more. If you have diabetes, you must take control of it immediately. If you are unsure or concerned, get yourself checked out by a physician.

The signs and symptoms of diabetes mellitus are visible if you care to look. The American Diabetes Association claims there are over 20 million people that have diabetes in the United States. It is estimated that there are close to 6.2 million people that have the signs and symptoms of diabetes mellitus and do not even know it. The World Health Organization states estimates that there are over 200 million people world wide that have the signs and symptoms of diabetes mellitus. Many do not know they have the disease.

Insulin, a hormone released from the pancreas, controls the extent of sugar in the blood. Once one has eaten, food is broken down into materials, including sugar that the body needs to function. Sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream and stimulates the pancreas to make insulin. This allows sugar to dissolve from the blood into the cells. Once inside the cells, sugar is converted to energy, which is either used immediately or stored until it is needed.

If the body does not produce enough insulin to influence the sugar into the cells, the resulting important levels of sugar in the blood and the patchy amount of sugar in the cells together produce the sign and symptoms of diabetes mellitus.

Here are some signs and symptoms of diabetes mellitus: How many do you have?

1. You're at least 45 years old.

2. Your waist is over 40 inches if you are man and over 34.5 inches if you are a women.

3. You do not exercise more than half an hour daily (walking, cycling, swimming, gardening.)

4. You are using medicine for high blood pressure. Mixing medicines can cause problems.

5. In the past you have been diagnosed at least once for a high blood sugar level; for instance during a pregnancy or illness.

6. Some family member has or had diabetes.

Most important if you have any questions or any reasonable doubt about your own health situation or the health of your loved ones please consults a doctor. Their expertise when looking at your signs and symptoms of diabetes mellitus will help you determine which area of treatment best fits your needs.