If you think that you may be experiencing early symptoms of diabetes like frequent urination, increased hunger, weight loss, and urinary tract infections, talk to your health care specialist right away. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment for Type 2 diabetes can reduce the risk of life-threatening complications.
Type 2 Diabetes and its Symptoms
Symptoms of diabetes can be mild and hard to recognize. Most people are unaware of the fact that they have high blood sugar until they have it for some time and lead to Type 2 diabetes. The common revealing symptoms of this metabolic disorder include excessive thirst and frequent urination, especially during the initial days. Ignoring these signs can cause worsening of the health problem. Even a slight lift in blood sugar levels can cause damage to your kidneys, nerves, and retinas. If blood sugar elevation is left untreated for long, the damage caused by the health complication can get worse.
If someone is recently diagnosed with high blood sugar, it is assumed by health care experts that he/she have probably already had diabetes for about five years. According to a clinical research study, which involved a certain number of people who are newly diagnosed with diabetes already have renal impairment and retinal problems; this shows they have had it for some time. People with full-blown diabetes Type 2 are not able to use or produce enough insulin hormone, and the condition is referred to as insulin resistance. The hormone plays a vital role in getting glucose from your blood into your cells to be utilized as energy. When the insulin doesn’t function, or there is not enough insulin, glucose starts accumulating in the bloodstream instead of being used by the cells. Excess glucose in the blood ultimately results in Type 2 diabetes. Other risk factors of this metabolic disorder include old age, obesity, lack of activity, or gestational diabetes. The good news is you can prevent Type 2 diabetes by following a healthy diet that contains more fruits, green veggies, nuts, lean protein, and whole grains. Getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy weight is also crucial in the management of diabetes. The first step in the prevention from the progression of the disease requires spotting of signs and symptoms of diabetes when they appear. In some cases, diabetes symptoms may not even show up, but it is important to keep a close eye on the signs of the disease and alert your health care specialist as soon as possible. Most signs are the same in men and women; however, they may vary in severity.
Also Read: Control Weight and Blood Sugar in Diabetes with these 5 Fermented Foods
Warning Signs of Type 2 Diabetes
Some several signs and symptoms of diabetes can occur early. Look for these common risk factors for diabetes.
- Frequent urination- Having frequent trips to the toilet, particularly at night? Consider this as a sign of blood sugar elevation. When there is an excess of glucose in the bloodstream in patients with Type 2 diabetes, kidneys react by flushing it out into the urine. This caused an increase in urine production and forced an individual to urinate more frequently. This may also cause an increase in the risk of urinary tract infection (UTI)s in both men and women. People with diabetes are more prone to UTI as compared to normal people. If you are fed up with your frequent trips to the toilet and seems to be producing more urine than usual, talk to your health care specialist to about whether you could have developed diabetes mellitus or not.
- Increased thirst- Excessive thirst or the need to drink fluids is another common, early indication of diabetes. As explained above, high blood sugar leads to increased production of urine and need to urinate more. Increased urination causes your body to extract more fluid from tissues, resulting in dehydration. Consequently, you develop a dry mouth and a feeling of extreme thirst. If you notice that you are drinking more than usual, or your mouth feels more dry than usual, consider it as an indication to Type 2 diabetes.
- Unexpected weight loss- When the hormone insulin is lacking, the body of a diabetes patient start burning fat and muscles for energy, which may cause the patient to lose weight. Due to uncontrolled diabetes, urinating more frequently may make lose more calories.
- Increased hunger- People who have diabetes Type 2 developed insulin resistance. This means the body of a person with diabetes either produce an adequate amount of insulin or unable to use insulin to help glucose get into the cells. When your cells can’t absorb the glucose, your body starts looking for more fuel, causing persistent hunger. Excessive glucose that comes out into your urine may cause you to lose weight. The muscles and organs will be low on energy and the person feel constantly hungry regardless of how recently they have eaten. Diabetes patients do not get enough energy from the food they eat.
- Numbness in the nerves- Prolonged exposure to high blood sugar can damage an individual’s nerves and may ultimately lead to diabetic neuropathy. Many people don’t show symptoms of nerve damage while others may notice numbness in the hands, feet, and toes. Diabetic neuropathy can worsen over time and result in severe complications if a person does not receive treatment for Type 2 diabetes.
- Blurred vision- Another indication is a blurred vision that could be a result of rapid blood sugar changes. Vision problems usually occur early in cases of uncontrolled diabetes. It can result from sudden blood sugar elevation, which affects the tiny blood vessels in the eyes, causing fluid to leak into the lens of the eye. The eye problem usually resolves on its own, but it is always a good idea to consult a health care specialist.
Do you have questions or concerns about Type 2 diabetes? Contact a health care specialist to find support. If you have recently been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, start receiving the treatment for Type 2 diabetes as soon as possible.
