Type 2 diabetes symptoms can be very difficult to detect as there are indeed few symptoms, and those that occur are minor, and the condition worsens. These symptoms may seem harmless at first. They are often subtle and may be attributed to aging or obesity.
Type 2 diabetes symptoms often seem vague and of no consequence. They are often put at the bottom of our worries list. But this could be a serious mistake because not knowing what they are could kill you.
The typical symptoms of type 2 diabetes include: feeling hungry or thirsty all the time, unexplained weight loss, feeling tired a lot of the time, frequent urination, vision problems, cuts or sores that are slow to heal, bad circulation, mood changes and leg soreness or pain.
In America alone there are about six million people who have type 2 diabetes and have no idea that they have it. They may perhaps believe that their symptoms are minor and not worth worrying about when in fact they could be in extreme danger.
If you are under 45 and generally healthy and fit, it's likely that type 2 diabetes symptoms are not from diabetes at all. However, if you are obese and beyond the age of 45, you might want to consider making an appointment with your physician and advise him or her about your concerns. It may be a false alarm, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
If type 2 diabetes symptoms go untreated, they start to take their toll in the body. High levels of glucose will start to affect blood vessels and nerves. There are several possible complications like kidney disease, blindness, gum infection and it may even require amputation of limbs.
Unlike type 1, which frequently has a sudden onset of symptoms and reaches a crisis point before diagnosis is made, the signs of type 2 diabetes may be gradual. Only your doctor can provide a diagnosis of any symptoms and whether they are actually Type 2 diabetes symptoms. Diabetes is a very serious condition and self diagnosis is not a good idea.
In addition to watching for type 2 diabetes symptoms, be aware of the many risk factors as well: obesity, apple-shaped figure, age, sedentary lifestyle, family history of the disease, history of diabetes in pregnancy, impaired glucose tolerance, being of aboriginal, African, Latin American or Asian ancestry, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
John Richmond is a frequent contributor to www.YourDiabetesInfo.com. For more information about type 2 diabetes symptoms and diabetes in general please go to this site for many more informative articles.
