Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms

Many people do not know that they could be suffering from Type 2 diabetes. This happens as they lead an unhealthy lifestyle, make poor health choices, and the lack of awareness over the amount of sugar they consume that could lead to numerous serious health conditions later. But how they know whether they have Type 2 diabetes? Here some of the symptoms to watch out for, and when observed, consult a health physician immediately.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic medical disease where the body becomes resistant to insulin. Insulin is a hormone created in the pancreas that works like a key that opens the doors of the cells to let glucose in, so that it can be used as energy. As the body stops responding to insulin, blood sugar level rises that could cause life-threatening health problems if not addressed immediately.

Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

• Excessive thirst and frequent urination. The body gets rid of excessive sugar through urination. As sugar leaves the body, water follows, forming a cycle of water replenishment and excretion.
• Constant hunger or polyphagia. Hunger is the body’s response for its demand for sugar. Since the body does not respond to insulin, the demand for sugar is harder to ignore.
• Dry mouth and awful breath. Having a dry mouth means there is lack of saliva to wash away bacteria and balance the pH in the mouth area. This could also be the result of ketosis, a state where the body uses fat for energy.
• Lack of energy and fatigue. The body’s resistance to insulin means the cells could not use sugar for energy. Fatigue is the outcome of not having enough energy left to function.
• Unexplained weight loss. Insulin resistance puts the body in the state of ketosis. As a result, the body starts burning fat and muscle for energy and contribute to sudden weight loss.
• Blurred vision. High blood sugar levels can cause liquid buildup in the eye’s lenses.
• Poor wound healing. High blood sugar levels exacerbate growth of yeast and bacteria. It can also cause poor blood circulation that makes it hard for the body to fight infection and compromise the immune system.

 

More Advanced Symptoms

• Itching of the skin. Having diabetes causes dry skin and poor blood circulation, which manifests in having itchiness in the leg area.
• Frequent yeast infections. Yeast thrives in sugar. Visit a doctor when having two or three yeast infections every few months as it is a sign of type 2 diabetes.
• Velvety dark skin changes of the neck, armpit, and groin. This condition is called acanthosis nigricans, which is an early sign of insulin resistance. This is also common to women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
• Numbness and tingling of the hands and feet. This condition is called neuropathy, which occurs in more than half of type 2 diabetes patients. This happens as blood flow is reduced to the extremities and blood vessels and nerves are damaged over time.
• Erectile dysfunction or impotence. This condition is common in men with type 2 diabetes. It happens when nerves and blood vessels get damaged due to long-term poor blood sugar control, and the decrease of testosterone levels.

Are you experiencing Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms? The team at Ubuntu Medical Stafford can help you. Call us today on (07) 3857 3777.

At Ubuntu Medical we also have Diabetes Specialists.