Type 2 diabetes causes blood sugar levels to rise in the blood. Recognizing the early signs and symptoms of this chronic disease can lead to its more successful treatment, which reduces the risk of severe complications, writes medicalnewstoday.com.
A 2017 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US found that 30.3 million adults there have diabetes. The report also estimated that another 84.1 million people in the U. S. have prediabetes. People with prediabetes have higher than normal blood sugar levels, but doctors do not yet think they have developed the disease. According to the CDC, people with this condition often develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years if left untreated.
The onset of type 2 diabetes can be gradual and symptoms may be mild during its early stages. As a result, many people may not realize they have this problem.
Early signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes may include:
1. Frequent urination
When blood sugar levels are high, the kidneys try to remove excess sugar by filtering it from the blood. This can lead to frequent urination, especially at night.
2. Increased thirst
Frequent urination, which is necessary to remove excess sugar from the blood, can cause the body to lose extra water. Over time, this can lead to dehydration and make a person feel more thirsty than usual.
3. You always feel hungry
People with diabetes often do not get enough energy from the food they eat. The digestive system breaks down food into a simple sugar called glucose, which the body uses as fuel. In people with diabetes, not enough of this glucose moves from the blood to the body's cells. As a result, people with type 2 diabetes often feel constantly hungry, regardless of how recently they have eaten.
4. Feeling tired
Type 2 diabetes can affect a person's energy levels and make them feel very tired. This fatigue occurs as a result of insufficient blood sugar.
5. Blurred Vision
Excess sugar in the blood can damage the small blood vessels in the eyes, causing blurred vision. It can occur in one or both eyes and can also be a transient condition. If a person with diabetes does not take treatment, the damage to these blood vessels can become more severe and eventually lead to permanent vision loss.
6. Slow wound healing
High blood sugar levels can damage the body's nerves and blood vessels, which disrupts circulation. As a result, even small cuts and wounds can take weeks or months to heal. Slow wound healing also increases the risk of infection.
7. Numbness or pain in hands or feet
High blood sugar levels can affect blood circulation and damage the body's nerves. In people with type 2 diabetes, this can cause pain or numbness in the hands and feet. This condition is known as neuropathy, and it can worsen over time and lead to more serious complications if one does not start treatment.
8. Dark spots on skin
Spots forming on the folds of the neck, armpits, or groin can also indicate a higher risk of diabetes. These spots can be very soft and velvety to the touch.
9. Itching and fungal infections
Excess sugar in the blood and urine provides food for these microorganisms, which can lead to infection. Infections tend to occur in warm, moist areas of the skin, such as the mouth, genitals, and armpits. Affected areas are usually itchy, but there may also be redness and soreness.
The importance of early diagnosis
Recognizing the early signs of type 2 diabetes can allow a person to receive a diagnosis and treatment sooner. Getting the right treatment, lifestyle changes, and controlling blood sugar levels can greatly improve he alth and quality of life, as well as reduce the risk of complications. Persistently high blood sugar levels can lead to serious and sometimes life-threatening complications, including: heart disease, stroke, neuropathy, nerve damage, leg problems, kidney or eye disease, vision loss, sexual problems in men and women.
The longer blood sugar levels remain uncontrolled, the greater the risk of other he alth problems.
Risk Factors
Anyone can develop type 2 diabetes, but certain factors can increase this risk. These factors include: age over 45, sedentary lifestyle, overweight or obesity, unhe althy diet, family history of diabetes, heart disease or stroke.
