Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin to process glucose, sugar, in the blood. The signs and symptoms of diabetes are, in many cases, subtle and seemingly harmless. For this reason, millions of people have the disease but are unaware of it. Read on for some of the most common symptoms and to find out what you should do if you suspect that you may be diabetic.

You urinate frequently. Because your body does not efficiently process the excess sugar in your blood, your kidneys are under increased pressure to filter the sugar from your system. What it can't process is excreted in fluid pulled from your tissues, leading to more frequent urination, which can lead to dehydration.

You feel thirsty constantly. Because you urinate more often, you feel thirsty more often, too, as your body tries to replenish the fluids lost. Increasing your fluid intake will probably lead to even more frequent urination, however.

You drop weight quickly, without trying. This symptom is most common associated with Type 1 diabetes, but it can point to Type 2 diabetes, as well. The reason it happens is because your body is dumping sugar from your blood because you cannot process it, which reduces the amount of energy your cells have available to use. This causes them to burn your body's own stores of fat and muscle.

You may feel tired and weak. Fatigue stems from the fact that your body is not processing sugars efficiently, meaning that the foods you eat are not adequately fueling your body. Dehydration can also play a role in feeling weak and sapped of energy.

Your extremities feel numb or tingly. Excessive sugar in the blood can cause nerve damage, leading to a condition called neuropathy, which is responsible for the tingling or painful sensations felt in the hands or feet. Diabetes also affects circulation, which can cause numbness.

You may notice vision changes such as blurriness. When you are chronically dehydrated due to diabetes, the lenses of your eyes are less moist, making it more difficult to focus. Left untreated, diabetes can also cause new blood vessels to form in your retinas, which can actually lead to blindness.

Your wounds and sores heal very slowly, and you may experience more infections. While the exact causes of frequent infections and poor healing are not understood, diabetics are more prone to experiencing these issues. Infections are not limited to the skin, either; if you are a woman, you may notice more frequent infections of the urinary and reproductive tracts.

If you experience the above diabetes signs and symptoms, schedule a visit with your physician. He or she will likely run tests to assist in diagnosing you. The sooner you are diagnosed, the sooner you can begin to manage your disease and learn about your treatment options, including lifestyle changes. Living with and managing diabetes can have its challenges, but living with it and not knowing it can cause great harm to your body.