Signs of a Type 2 Diabetes Symptom | Diabetes-guidesDiabetes is scary-common in the U.S.—but the freakiest thing about it might be the number of people who are walking around undiagnosed. Among the 84 million U.S. adults with pre-diabetes, a shocking 90 percent have no clue they're on the path to a full-blown diabetes diagnosis, the CDC reports.That's probably because diabetes symptoms are often subtle, meaning many young women easily miss or dismiss them. Type 2 diabetes, which occurs when blood sugar is too high, usually because the body fails to produce enough insulin, has series side effects, too. Left untreated, it can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, nerve damage, and dementia down the road.
In a health conscious world it is easier to spot symptoms of diabetes in the early stages, which is known as pre-diabetes.
Discovering and taking notice of early diabetic signs gives you a fighting chance of preventing diabetes altogether. Look out for these 8 pre-diabetes symptoms.
Signs of a Type 2 Diabetes Symptom
If you have two or more of these pre-diabetes symptoms you should seriously consider getting yourself checked out:- If you find you are excessively thirsty, not just after extreme exercise or hot weather.
- You seem to constantly have a dry mouth - even if you've just had a drink.
- You find you are having to urinate frequently.
- You have unexpected weight loss or gain
- You feel lethargic. You always feel as if you've got no energy; you are weak and tired all the time.
- Sometimes your vision is blurry - be careful, untreated eye problems caused through diabetes can lead to blindness. You should have regular eye checks, especially as you get older because your eyes can be the early warning signal for many diseases – not just diabetes.
- You have cuts or sores or bruises (especially on your feet) that are slow to heal.
- If you experience excessive itching or soreness in the genital area or yeast infections (which can be misdiagnosed as thrush) it may be a sign of too much sugar in your urine.
There are different types of diabetes; pre-diabetes, type 1, type 2, gestational and maturity onset. And, dependent upon your age, lifestyle and family history you may be more susceptible to developing diabetes.
For example you may be more prone to developing diabetes if any of these factors apply to you:
- Your family background is African American, American Indian, Asian American, Pacific Islander, or Hispanic American/Latino.
- You have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes.
- You are aged over 45 and are overweight you might be at risk of diabetes type 2
- You have had gestational diabetes or have given birth to a baby over 9 pounds in weight.
- You have high blood pressure.
- Your cholesterol levels are not good.
Although people with type 2 diabetes may not have specific symptoms, an increase in thirst is one symptom that is characteristic of the condition. The increased thirst can accompany other symptoms like frequent urination, feelings of unusual hunger, dry mouth, and weight gain or loss.
Other symptoms that can occur if high blood sugar levels persist are fatigue, blurred vision, and headaches.
Often, type 2 diabetes is only identified after its negative health consequences are apparent. Certain infections and sores that take a long time to heal are a warning sign. Other possible signs include frequent yeast infections or urinary tract infections and itchy skin.
Sexual problems can occur as a result of type 2 diabetes. Since diabetes can damage the blood vessels and nerves in the sex organs, decreased sensation can develop, potentially leading to difficulties with orgasm. Vaginal dryness in women and impotence in men are other complications of diabetes. Estimates suggest that between 35% and 70% of men with diabetes will eventually suffer from impotence. Statistics for women show that about one-third of women with diabetes will have some kind of sexual dysfunction.
If you have any of these diabetes warning signs, contact your health care provider right away so you can have a diabetes test. Even people with pre-diabetes can have the increased risk from heart disease seen in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.