Type 2 diabetes can cause serious health complications, so it’s important to know how to spot type 2 diabetes. Even prediabetes can increase your chances of developing heart disease, just like type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Talk to your doctor about preventive measures you can take to reduce your chances of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Because of the presence of high blood sugar, type 2 diabetes may present with the following symptoms:
- increased thirst;
- increased hunger (especially after meals);
- dry mouth;
- Frequent urination;
- Unexplained weight loss (even if you’ve been eating and feeling hungry);
- Fatigue (weakness, feeling of tiredness);
- Blurred vision;
- Headache;
- Loss of consciousness (rare).
See your doctor if you have any of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes, or if you have other questions about type 2 diabetes. It is important to check for diabetes and start a treatment plan early to prevent serious diabetes complications.
Type 2 diabetes is usually not diagnosed until complications occur. In most cases, patients may not have symptoms of diabetes or the type 2 diabetes symptoms described above may develop gradually. In fact, 1 in 4 people with type 2 diabetes do not know they have type 2 diabetes.
Other symptoms of type 2 diabetes may include:
- Sores or cuts that are slow to heal;
- Itchy skin (usually around the vagina or groin);
- Frequent yeast infections;
- Recent weight gain, or unexplained weight loss;
- Velvety black skin changes on the neck, armpits, and groin (called acanthosis nigricans);
- Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet;
- loss of vision;
- Erectile dysfunction (impotence).