Early Warning Signs of Diabetes

It is often years before type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, although it may have been developing for quite some time. A diagnosis of diabetes can lead to big life changes so it's important to know the early warning signs of diabetes. Taking action now could delay or even prevent you from getting the disease.

The Symptoms

Symptoms will vary depending on the person. Be alert for:

• Increased bathroom breaks. Too much glucose in the blood leads your body to try to "dilute" it drawing water out of the blood, which is released in urine.

• Constantly feeling thirsty. Because you urinate more, you also get dehydrated and need to drink more in order to replenish fluids.

• Always feeling hungry. Hunger can occur because a diabetic's body doesn't use insulin properly, so the body feels depleted of energy.

• A general fatigued feeling. A diabetic's body no longer responds properly to insulin and the body's cells can't absorb the blood glucose. This results in a tired, run-down feeling. It is easy to attribute tiredness to stress or overwork, but if the feeling persists it is a good idea to ensure there's no medical reason behind it.

• Dark skin patches, usually under the arms. This is a condition called acanthosis nigricans.

• Blurry vision. Diabetes causes changes to the lens of the eye, which can result in vision changes like double vision, spots in the field of vision, cloudy or indistinct vision, or even eye pain due to infection or glaucoma.

• Itchy, dry skin, caused by poor circulation. This often occurs on the lower part of the legs.

• Neuropathy, or tingling in your hands or feet. This condition occurs because diabetes gradually causes damage to the nervous system.

• Frequent or recurring infections.

• Wounds that heal slowly. Diabetes can cause poor circulation which in turn causes wounds to heal more slowly than is normal.

 

There are many causes of type 2 diabetes.

People who have insulin resistance often develop type 2 diabetes. It's important to regularly visit a doctor to maintain good health. Be sure to mention to your doctor any initial signs of diabetes - even if you're not sure. Your doctor may recommend getting tested for diabetes. Catching and treating it now could prevent it from becoming a bigger problem.

Diagnosing Type 2 Diabetes

A doctor will talk to you about the symptoms of diabetes you may have been experiencing. He or she will also take a medical history, family history, do a physical exam, and may order a blood test to check your blood glucose levels. Based on the results, a diagnosis can be made.

Once type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, there are ways to treat it. A big part of treatment involves lifestyle changes that include a change in diet as well as regular exercise. Both will help to get blood sugar levels under control. Some people are able to control diabetes without medication; others will need medication or insulin to keep the disease well-managed.

If you believe that you may have (or are at risk for developing) type 2 diabetes, go to your doctor and get it checked out. Familiarity with the signs of diabetes will help you to determine whether there could be a problem. Early treatment may be able to prevent or delay the disease's progression, which in turn will help to prevent additional health complications such as loss of vision or heart damage. Keeping a close eye out for the early warning signs of type 2 diabetes - particularly if you have risk factors such as family history or excess weight - will give you the best opportunity to delay or even prevent developing the disease.