Diabetes FAQ » Diabetes Articles » Diabetes 2 Symptoms

Diabetes 2 Symptoms

Unfortunately, many people with type 2 diabetes go undiagnosed for several years and are not diagnosed until they go to the doctor with complications of diabetes.

Many people who have Type 2 diabetes may not develop the symptoms for years. Unfortunately, as the disease progresses, that’s when the symptoms develop. People who have Type 2 can have many symptoms. They are, blurred vision, a decreased sensation or numbness of the hands and feet, very dry and itchy skin, frequent infections of the bladder and vaginal area, an increased need to urinate, frequent hunger and thirst, erectile dysfunction in men, slowness of cuts or sores to heal, and frequent tiredness.

Unfortunately though, many who have Type 2 diabetes will go undiagnosed for several years and are probably are not aware of the problem till they go to see their doctor with some of the complications of diabetes.

Having high blood sugar levels called hyperglycaemia, can lead to a condition known as glucose toxicity. This will lead to damage of the pancreas and make the body less likely to produce insulin. Of course, without insulin the glucose levels are going to continue to go up to high levels that will damage such organs such as the eyes, the nerves, and the kidneys. These complications are similar to those of Type 1 diabetes.

People who have diabetes are at a far greater risk to have problems with damage to small blood vessels and to the nerves because of high levels of glucose in their blood. Another problem they may encounter is a greater risk of developing hardening of the arteries, which of course can lead to a heart attack, stroke, or poor blood flow to the legs. If the small blood vessels are damaged this can affect the kidneys, the eyes and the nerves. Damage to the eyes especially the retina, is called diabetic retinopathy and is the leading cause of blindness. Diabetic nephropathy occurs when there is damage to the kidneys and can lead to kidney failure and to the need for kidney dialysis. If there is damage to the nerves that supply the arms and legs as well as the gastrointestinal tract then this is called neuropathy. Some diabetes sufferers who have damage to the nerves in their legs and also have poor blood flow may even eventually need an amputation.

Another diabetes 2 symptom concerns high levels of blood glucose. When levels become to high in conjunction with other stress factors such as infections, then there may be confusion, dizziness, and even seizures. This could lead to a coma and require immediate medical assistance.

Fortunately, the complications of diabetes can either be prevented or delayed or slowed considerably by taking control of glucose levels and keeping them as close to normal as possible.

In order to diagnose diabetes, your doctor will want a complete medical history, ask what your symptoms are and require a blood and urine sample. If protein and sugar are found in the urine, these are signs of Type 2 diabetes. Another common occurrence in people who are diagnosed with diabetes is higher levels of glucose and triglycerides which is a type of lipid or fat. The glucose levels are usually checked after a fasting period of at least 8 hours has occurred. Levels that are higher then 7.0 usually mean that a person has diabetes. If the levels are between 6.1 and 6.9 then this means that the fasting glucose was impaired in some way and the person may develop diabetes later.

Sometime if you show symptoms of diabetes such as increased thirst, frequent urination and unexplained weight loss, then glucose levels can be taken anytime during the day. If glucose levels measure 11.1 or more then diabetes is diagnosed. In addition, the doctor may also want to examine the eyes to see if there are signs of damage to the blood vessels of the retina.

Related Articles

• Cause, Symptom, and Effect of Diabetes Mellitus
• National Diabetic Supply
• Insulin and Diabetes
• Blood Sugar Levels Normal
• Diet For Diabetes
• Info on Diabetes
• If left untreated or treatment and medical advice is ignored, what can happen to a diabetic?