Warning Signs of Diabetes - Detecting Them Before It’s Too Late
At least 90 percent of people with diabetes in the United States and Canada have Type 2 diabetes. Also known as adult-onset diabetes because it typically occurs in people from age 45 up, Type 2 diabetes has begun occurring in younger people as well and the number of cases is rising. The problem with Type 2 diabetes is that symptoms occur very gradually in the early stages. In some people, symptoms may not be even felt. However, there are telltale signs that may indicate Type 2 diabetes. Some of these symptoms include:
Frequent urination
People with Type 2 diabetes notice this symptom upon the onset of the disease. Since a diabetic’s body will be producing more insulin than he can handle, his kidneys work doubly hard in order to rid his system of the excessive sugar. The result: frequent trips to the toilet to urinate. Because the body is rid of fluids, frequent urination can also lead to thirst in diabetics.
If not managed well, frequent urination can lead to dehydration, a common complaint in those who have diabetes mellitus. If not corrected, this can lead to headaches, dizziness and confusion.
Fatigue and hunger
Dehydration can also cause the body to feel irritable and tired. Also, since the body cannot process glucose efficiently, the muscles lack the ‘fuel’ to work. Glucose or sugar is converted by the body as energy. Without this source of energy, muscles feel weakened. This also explains why people with Type 2 diabetes often feel drowsy due to the lack of energy.
Hunger may also be experienced as a Type 2 diabetes symptom because glucose cannot be used by the body’s cells as food or fuel.
Unexplained loss of weight
Another symptom of Type 2 diabetes is weight loss, which may occur without any explanation. Even if people eat more, weight loss will still be noticed. This is caused by loss of fluids in the body, along with the inability of the system to process and use sugar.
Double or blurry vision
Some Type 2 diabetics may also experience blurry vision. Diabetes may cause blockage in small blood vessels in the eyes which can lead to retinopathy. Retinopathy is a condition where the lining that coats the back of the eyes thins or breaks down. This can lead to blindness.
Neuropathy
Neuropathy is actually a group of conditions involving the nerves. In diabetics, this causes tingling sensations of the feet. Feet can also feel sensitive or cold to the touch and many diabetics report feeling burning pain.
Loss of feeling
The loss of feeling is sometimes manifested as a tingling sensation in the hands and/or feet. This can progress to numbness, in which the extremities lose feeling. This is due to bad blood circulation, when blood cannot efficiently reach these parts of the body.
These symptoms can cause discomfort in people, which often leads to a lack of coordination. The problem with numbness is that if it progresses, the lack of feeling in hands and feet can often prevent a person from knowing or feeling pain from sores, cuts or wounds. Even after a cut occurs, he or she may not be able to detect it.
To make matters worse, Type 2 diabetes makes healing difficult. Since sores and wounds remain open for long periods of time, the risk of developing infection is much greater. Should complications develop, this symptom can lead to amputation.
Dealing with symptoms of Type 2 diabetes requires correct information. It’s important that the proper diagnosis of the disease is performed. If diabetes is suspected, it’s best to visit a medical clinic or facility and ask for the assistance and guidance of a medical professional.