Diabetes Type 2 Symptoms - The Signs Everyone Should Look Out For

Type 2 diabetes is one of the new generation of degenerative diseases that has only really emerged in significant numbers in the last few decades. Up until recent times, the statistics of individuals suffering from diabetes type 2 symptoms was roughly one in every one hundred thousand. Fast forward to modern day and the numbers have a slight spin on them.



Figures vary but casualties in the region of a couple of hundred million is no exaggeration.
Twenty million of these are in the united states alone and the figures for people who are as of yet undiagnosed with the disease far exceed these figures. Type 2 diabetes is an epidemic.



Never has it been more crucial for individuals to be able to spot diabetes type 2 symptoms before the damage becomes permanent. The disease itself is a sliding scale, one that can remain hidden for many years with only the most subtle of symptoms being present, the worst of these only becoming present when the body starts to go into meltdown and things get critical. It is far better to be cautious and maybe a little on the morbid side than it is to carry on oblivious in some sort of denial state.



This disease is unforgiving and some of the terrible afflictions that beset individuals can be avoided if proper attention is given to ones state of health in advance. If in doubt, visit your doctor for a check up. A blood glucose test costs next to nothing, is quick and painless. It could save you a lot of trouble in the future.



Look for signs of dizziness, tiredness, sweating, poor healing, lack of concentration, continual hunger and thirst and a constant need to visit the toilet. This list is by no way exhaustive but the type 2 diabetes symptoms listed are some of the main ones

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes That Everyone Should Know

Diabetes is a group of metabolic disorders with hypoglycemia as a principal complication which may either result from defect in insulin secretion or insulin action or both. It is further classified into 2 types - a) type 1 diabetes 2) type 2 diabetes.



Type 1 diabetes occurs due to beta cell destruction which may be immune mediated or idiopathic usually leading to absolute insulin deficiency. That is why type1 diabetes is also called as Insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus.



Type 2 diabetes may range from predominantly resistance to insulin along with insulin deficiency to predominantly secretory defect with insulin resistance. It is also called Non Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.



In all, diabetes develops due to variable combination of total insulin deficiency caused by pancreatic cell dysfunction and tissue insulin resistance due to decreased cellular responsiveness.



Signs of type 1 and type 2 are similar in many respects as in both these conditions there is too much glucose present in blood but not enough present inside the cells.



In Insulin dependent or type 1 diabetes there is abrupt onset of severe symptoms while in Non insulin dependent or type 2 diabetes there are asymptomatic or only moderate symptoms present.



The cardinal symptoms of diabetes mellitus are polyuria, polydipsia, and weight loss without effort. The presence of these symptoms should always result in an immediate test for blood glucose and urine for ketones.



Important signs and symptoms are as follows -



Polyuria - Hyperglycemia causes increased excretion of urine because if insulin is absent or not effective then kidneys are not able to filter glucose back to blood so they take out extra water from the blood in order to dilute the glucose. Hence, there is regular filling of bladder and regular desire of voiding of urine arises.



Polydipsia - Due to increased urinary excretion, excessive thirst develops which forces the person to drink more water causing polydipsia. Polyuria and polydipsia are termed as "Osmotic Symptoms".



Weight Loss - Weight loss in a person of more than 5% should be considered clinically important if the person is not deliberately attempting to lose weight. Weight loss is a common symptom in type 1 diabetes because in type 1 diabetes there is marked insulin deficiency so cells desperately starve for glucose. Type 2 proceeds gradually so symptoms of weight loss are not as noticeable as type 1.



Lethargy and Fatigue - They occur particularly in type 2 diabetes because in type 2 symptoms are present since some time.



Tingling or Numbness in Extremities - Consistently high glucose blood level damages the nervous system and especially in the extremities. This symptom often improves if controlled glucose levels are maintained.



Skin Troubles - In patients with poor glycemic control skin infections occur such as Staphylococcal infections leading to boils, Carbuncles or Abscesses which are often recurrent. Oral and genital candidiasis can also be a presenting feature of diabetes mellitus. Genital candidiasis in women leads to a thick white discharge and vaginal soreness. In men it can lead to severe Balanitis (infection of glans penis).



Visual Disturbance - Hyperglycemia leads to blurred vision owing to the osmotic changes within the aqueous humor of lens of eye. This symptom settles once normoglycemia is achieved.

Symptoms of Diabetes - Everyone Must Know

The symptoms of diabetes may begin quietly but spread widely during the period of time. Initially the diabetes may go undiagnosed because of the reason that the symptoms are harmless. Those who find it out earlier, they scold a lot to their bad luck. But the fact is that they are the luckier people as they come to know of it in time and can take proper steps not only to cure their diabetic condition but also to avoid it from worsening.



The doctors can better diagnose that the symptoms the person have are related to diabetes. Any heart disease, change in vision, change in blood pressure level, numbness or tingling effect in hand and foot are the warning symptoms. These symptoms do not for sure show that a parson has diabetes, but this means that person should visit a doctor, and inform him about the symptoms.



The typical symptoms of diabetes are;



--Polyuria (frequent urination)
--Polydipsia (increased thirst)
--Polyphagia (increased hunger)
--Weight loss (Without any intentional attempt)



Other symptoms of diabetes may include;



--Fatigue
--Dry mouth
--Dry and itchy kin
--Blurred vision
--Recurring vaginal infections (in females)
--Impotency (in males)
--Excessive infections
--Slow healing process



The symptoms of diabetes may begin silently and extend slowly. The more pronounced symptoms are frequent thirst and excessive trips to washroom, especially at night.



Not everybody have one or more of these symptoms. But the ones who experience one or more of the above symptoms better consult doctor, so that the things can be settled at an earlier stage.