Type 2 Diabetes is quickly becoming one of the most common diseases that affect the elderly in developed countries. Access to various fatty and sugary foods along with busy lifestyles that do not create time for exercise are causing people to put their health on the back burner and develop health issues. Type 2 Diabetes is one of these health issues that can arise if you do not watch your weight, exercise frequently, and eat healthy. This type of diabetes occurs whenever your body does not process glucose properly. If you are taking in too much glucose, then your body will not be able to adapt easily, and the excess glucose could accumulate in your blood. Overtime, your body will not be able to process the excess glucose and you may develop type 2 diabetes. If you are worried about developing this disease, or that you may already have the disease, then keep reading to find out eight warning signs of Type 2 Diabetes.
Frequent Urination
When glucose builds up in your bloodstream, it causes your kidneys to go into overdrive to filter and clean your blood. As your kidneys begin to work overtime, you will begin to urinate frequently to flush out the glucose from your body. Patients with type 2 diabetes often report urinating every hour or so during the day, and every few hours at night. If you are experiencing frequent urination, even without drinking anymore, then you may need to speak with your doctor.
Thirst
Extreme thirst is another early warning sign of type 2 diabetes. If you have high blood sugar, then the extra glucose in your blood will be flushed out of your system through frequent urination. As you urinate frequently though, your body will grow dehydrated, so you will experience an increased thirst to rehydrate your body. As your glucose levels rise, you will experience even more thirst and so on.
Weight Loss
If you suddenly begin to lose weight, then you may be kind of happy. Most people struggle to lose weight, and to suddenly see a decrease in the scale may inflate your self-esteem. However, suddenly losing weight without much of an explanation could be a sign of type 2 diabetes. If you have type 2 diabetes, then even though there will be excess glucose in your bloodstream, your cells will not be able to utilize this glucose properly. Overtime, this will cause you to lose weight. Plus, the water that you will lose through frequent urination can easily show on the scale as a loss.
Increased Hunger
Type 2 Diabetes causes you to develop insulin resistance, meaning that your body cannot make enough insulin to transport glucose from your food into your cells. So, your cells will begin to starve, and with that cell starvation will come actual hunger pains. You will feel an increased hunger to try to combat the lack of glucose reaching your cells.
Frequent Infections
Excess glucose in your bloodstream can feed the microflora in and around your body. Overtime, the delicate balance of microorganisms on your skin and in your body will be disrupted. Many microorganisms utilized glucose as a Carbon source, and therefore they will thrive whenever there is excess glucose for them to eat. If you have an open wound, then your microflora can turn against you and feed off the excess glucose to multiply and proliferate in the wound. This will lead to an infection. Women with type 2 diabetes also tend to get vaginal infections and urinary infections due to the excess glucose in their system.
Blurred Vision
The lenses in your eyes are made of a soft bendable membrane that allows you to see properly. Bending of these lenses will allow you to focus your eyes and see both far and near. If you have type 2 diabetes, then your lenses will not be able to bend properly, and this will lead to blurred vision. Type 2 Diabetes will not directly damage your lens, and if you are diagnosed with the disease then once it is controlled, your vision will return to normal. Your vision may also go back to normal as your body adjusts to having high sugar levels. Therefore, you may have blurred vision for a few months that suddenly clears up before any other symptoms appear.
Foot Pain or Tingling
High glucose levels can affect your nerves. People with type 2 diabetes often suffer from neuropathy, or nerve pain and tingling. Most often, this affects a diabetic’s feet. Therefore tingling or numbness in your feet may be an early warning sign of type 2 diabetes.
Skin Issues
Darkening of the skin, dry skin, and even itching skin can all be early warning signs of type 2 diabetes. These skin issues are a direct consequence of having too much glucose in your blood. This glucose needs insulin in order to be transported into your body’s cells. But with type 2 diabetes, you are not producing enough insulin to adequately supply your cells with glucose. Overtime, your epithelial cells will begin to show symptoms of the disease and you can develop a myriad of skin issues.
Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is a common disease that can affect anyone at any age, and it is directly correlated with a person’s lifestyle choices. If you are worried about developing type 2 diabetes, then you can take charge of your life and really reduce your risk. Simply by exercising a few times per week, eating healthy, cutting out sugar, and drinking water you can be on your way to reducing your chances of developing the disease. Even if you are experiencing some of the early warning signs listed above, a change in your lifestyle can still help you. Talk with your doctor if you are experiencing any of these symptoms and with a simple blood test and urine test they can determine if you are suffering from type 2 diabetes. If you are, talk with your doctor about ways to reduce your blood glucose levels and how to stay healthy.
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