Because type 2 diabetes can cause serious health-altering complications, it is critical to know the warning signs of diabetes and to get tested for diabetes when early symptoms appear, and treating diabetes early can help prevent serious complications.
The following will describe the various warning signs of diabetes, and it is important to check your health and tell your doctor when you notice new symptoms. type 2 diabetes sometimes develops without any obvious symptoms, and about 1/3 of people with type 2 diabetes do not know they have the disease, so it is crucial to talk to your doctor about your risk of developing diabetes and to determine whether you should be tested.
Common warning signs of diabetes
Common warning signs of diabetes are:
- Feeling thirsty a lot.
- Feeling hungry often, especially after meals.
- Dry mouth.
- Polyuria or urinary tract infections.
- Unexplained weight loss and hunger even when you are eating.
- Lassitude, depression, and fatigue.
- Blurred vision.
- Headache.
Tell your doctor if you experience any of these early symptoms of diabetes and schedule diabetes testing. With the right diabetes diet, regular exercise, and medication (if necessary), you can treat type 2 diabetes and lead an active, healthy life.
Seek treatment right away if you have any of the following symptoms of diabetes complications.
What does blood sugar have to do with diabetes?
The problem of hypoglycemia occurs when the level of sugar or glucose in the blood is too low to meet the body’s energy needs. Hypoglycemia is not a disease, but a symptom caused by a variety of causes.
Hypoglycemia is the most common complication of diabetes treatment (diabetic hypoglycemia). Using too much insulin or other diabetes medications or delaying meals can trigger hypoglycemia, and hypoglycemia can also be caused by certain medications, other diseases, or poor nutrition.
Warning signs of hypoglycemia
Including nausea, nervousness or tension, rapid heartbeat, mood changes, blurred vision, and difficulty walking, severe hypoglycemia can lead to loss of consciousness, seizures, and coma, and can be life-threatening.
Hyperglycemia causes many of the early symptoms of diabetes described above. Hyperglycemia can be caused by not taking insulin or diabetes medications, eating too many carbohydrates and the insulin you take is not effective at suppressing blood sugar, or simply eating too many carbohydrates, or by stress or infection.
Diabetic coma in type 2 diabetes
Hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome (HHNS) is an extremely serious complication that can lead to coma and even death in people with type 2 diabetes.
This dangerous condition occurs when blood glucose is too high and the body is severely dehydrated. To prevent HHNS and diabetic coma in people with type 2 diabetes, follow your doctor’s advice and check your blood glucose regularly.
Increase the frequency of blood glucose checks when you are sick, drink plenty of fluids, and watch for signs of dehydration.
Other warning signs of diabetes complications
Other warning signs of complications of type 2 diabetes may include:
- Slow ulcer or wound healing.
- Itching of the skin, usually around the vulva or groin.
- Yeast infections are frequent.
- Recent weight gain.
- Dark, velvety skin growths on the neck, axillae, and groin called acanthosis nigricans.
- Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet.
- Decreased visual acuity.
- Erectile dysfunction (ED).
Contact your doctor immediately for diabetes testing if you experience any of these diabetes warning signs, even in people with prediabetes, which can increase the risk of heart disease as much as people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.