Type 2 diabetes (often called adult onset diabetes) has become one of the most commonly diagnosed conditions throughout the country. When a person has type 2 diabetes their body does not produce adequate amounts of enzyme to keep their blood glucose levels in a healthy range. The signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes should be taken seriously. The good news is that through diet, exercise and medication, type 2 diabetes can be treated and even reversed! If you or a loved one are exhibiting any of the below signs, seek out the care of a medical professional as soon as possible.
1. Excessive Hunger
Any changes to your hunger levels is cause for concern, but a drastic increase in hunger is a classic sign of type 2 diabetes. Most people who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes noted that they had an excessive amount of hunger, especially after eating. We are used to feeling full and satisfied after a good meal, so it can be especially unsettling to feel hunger pangs immediately after eating. This sign of type 2 diabetes is one that affects many of those who have been diagnosed as diabetic.
If you are eating a varied and calorie dense diet and are still unsatisfied with feelings of excessive hunger, this could be cause for concern. Consider keeping a food log for one week to see what foods and drinks you are consuming and how satiated you feel throughout the day. A log of this sort will be incredibly helpful to your doctor should you require a visit to discuss your symptoms.
2. Excessive Thirst
Excessive thirst is also referred to as polydipsia, and is a common symptom of type 2 diabetes. When thirst becomes excessive, physicians are quick to run tests to rule out or diagnose type 2 diabetes. Assuming that you have not had a drastic increase in activity or consumption of salty foods, the excessive thirst could be a sign of the body’s inability to regulate its own glucose levels. As the kidneys are working overtime to filter the excess glucose, the body reacts with a powerful need to hydrate. If you simply cannot quench your thirst, seek out the care of a doctor to get to the bottom of what may be causing such an uncomfortable level of thirst.
3. Fatigue
There is a stark difference between being a little tired from lack of sleep and being extremely fatigued from a medical condition. When a person has unregulated type 2 diabetes, the body goes into overdrive to try and rectify the situation. This extra work load results in the need for a huge increase in the amount of sleep that is needed to function normally throughout the day. Needing a nap every few days is not normally a cause for concern, but when fatigue affects your job, hobbies and personal life, then it is time to find out what may be wrong.
4. Weight Gain
Weight gain is almost always a cause for concern. In healthy adults, a weight gain is usually caused by overeating or slacking off on physical activity. Those who are pre-diabetic or have type 2 diabetes may notice a weight gain without either of these typical causes. If you have noticed your clothes feeling tighter and the number on the scale inching up with no known reason, reach out to your physician to see if type 2 diabetes may be at the root of your weight gain.
5. Weight Loss
While maintaining a healthy weight is an excellent way to keep type 2 diabetes at bay, unexplained weight loss can actually be a symptom of the disease. If you haven’t been actively trying to control the amount of calories you consume or working out more often and are seeing a weight loss, this could be a symptom of type 2 diabetes. Weight loss is a common symptom for many diseases and conditions, so be sure to stay vigilant and protect your health by having the appropriate tests done to find out what is behind your weight loss.
6. Frequent Urination
Polyuria (frequent urination) tends to go hand in hand with another one of diabetes’ main symptoms: increased, excessive thirst. When a person is drinking in excess to try and quench their thirst, the body has no choice but to increase its urine output. When glucose levels are at a dangerously high level, the kidneys work hard to try and filter the body to rid it of the excess sugar. This overtime work of the kidneys results in frequent urination. It is important to note that if you are experiencing frequent urination, you could be at risk for dehydration and must take steps to prevent it from causing even more health problems.
7. Blurred Vision
When the levels of blood sugar increase to such a point that the body begins to take fluids from atypical parts of the body, the eyes can be targeted. The body is desperately trying to acquire fluids to aid the kidneys that are working overtime and are fatigued. When fluid is pulled from the eyes, the result is blurred vision and the inability to focus. Vision changes should be examined quickly by a professional familiar with diabetes. Untreated diabetes has the potential to cause serious eye damage and even blindness.
8. Poor Wound
Healing There seems to be a strong correlation to those diagnosed with diabetes and their inability to heal properly. Small cuts and bruises that used to heal without incident may suddenly be taking weeks to heal. This common sign of diabetes is a serious one in that wounds that do not heal properly are more prone to developing infections. Diabetic patients who are also experiencing nerve damage and numbness in their feet or other extremities must take extreme caution to ensure that they avoid any wounds on those areas of the body. If you are noticing poor wound healing over any course of time, try and keep the wound clean and covered until you are able to seek medical care.
9. Dark Skin Patches
When blood glucose levels are too high, signs may appear on the skin that point to a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Dark skin patches that appear with no other cause can be the body’s warning sign of diabetes. Any changes in skin pigmentation or texture should be presented to a physician. A regulated person who has normal levels of glucose and enzyme production is able to enjoy a body free of concerns. When any system is out of balance; in diabetics, this is the glucose-enyzme relationship, the signs can pop up on the skin that something is wrong and needs to be addressed.
10. Numbness in Feet
Nerve damage, which leads to numbness in the feet, is a symptom that many physicians report seeing in their diabetic patients. The nerve damage is a result of their high blood glucose levels. Should you experience numbness or tingling in your feet, there is the possibility that your body is sending you signals that you need to get checked for diabetes.
