Type 2 diabetes is a chronic (ongoing) condition that affects how your body uses glucose (sugar). It is a common health concern, but the good news is that recognizing the symptoms early can help with effective care and treatment.
What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes usually develops gradually over time. In its early stages, you may not notice any symptoms or the symptoms may be so mild that they are easily overlooked.
The most common signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes include the following:
- Peeing often: Feeling the need to pee more often, especially at night, could be a sign of type 2 diabetes. When your blood sugar levels are high, the kidneys work to get rid of extra sugar in your system.
- More thirst: Frequent urination to remove the extra sugar can, over time, cause dehydration and increased thirst.
- Increased hunger: Even after eating, hunger can be a symptom that your body can’t use glucose as it should.
- Unusually tired: When your body can’t use food for energy, you may feel tired and weak.
- Blurred vision: High blood sugar can affect your eyes and make things look blurry.
- Slow-healing sores: When blood sugar levels are too high, it can cause problems with your blood circulation, weaken the immune system, damage nerves, and affect your body’s ability to heal cuts, scrapes and sores.
- Numbness or tingling: High blood sugar levels can affect blood circulation and cause nerve damage, leading to tingling and numbness in your hands and feet.
- Weight changes: You may lose weight despite eating as usual.
- Skin patches: A dark patch (or band) of velvety skin on the back of your neck, armpit or other skin folds could mean you have too much insulin in your blood.
- Infections: When you have diabetes, you can get foot infections, yeast infections and urinary tract infections more easily.
What are the complications of type 2 diabetes?
If it isn’t well-managed, type 2 diabetes can lead to many complications affecting different parts of the body. Some include:
- Heart and vascular (blood vessel) disease
- Kidney and liver disease
- Nerve damage (neuropathy)
- Eye damage, such as cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy
- Hearing impairment
- Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia
- Skin conditions, such as bacterial and fungal infections
It’s important to note that following your diabetes care plan can greatly reduce your risk of health problems. Understand more about complications.
When should you seek emergency care?
Untreated type 2 diabetes can lead to severe hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), other serious health problems and even death.
It’s important to call 911 or seek emergency medical attention immediately if you have any of these symptoms:
- Persistent (ongoing) vomiting
- Severe stomach pain
- Rapid or labored breathing
- Increased heart rate
- Confusion or difficulty concentrating
- Fruity-smelling or acetone (nail polish remover)-smelling breath
- Fainting or loss of consciousness
- Seizures
It’s always better to err on the side of caution when dealing with severe symptoms. Responding quickly in these situations may save your life.
Next step: Get diagnosed and learn how to manage your diabetes.
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