Type 2 diabetes symtoms
Type 2 diabetes symptoms will often develop gradually and may not always show symptoms at an earlier stage. Type 2 diabetes symptoms can differ slightly from symptoms of type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong condition. Once symptoms of diabetes have developed into the condition, the body will then be unable to regulate the amount of glucose in the blood. It is important to catch the symptoms as early as possible to limit damage to the body. Although there are 3 main diabetes signs shared by all people with diabetes, type 2 diabetes may sometimes exhibit some specific symptoms, such as certain skin disorders.
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes often develops slowly, over a period of years, and the symptoms can therefore also develop gradually. At diagnosis, people who have type 2 diabetes may show little or no symptoms of the condition. Because the symptoms develop slowly, type 2 diabetes may commonly be diagnosed following routine medical examinations or screening tests for non-related conditions.
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes may include:
- Feeling tired during the day, particularly after meals (fatigue)
- Often feeling hungry, particularly if you feel hungry shortly after eating (polyphagia)
- Urinating more often than normal, particular needing to do so during the night (polyuria)
- Feeling abnormally thirsty (polydipsia)
- Blurred vision
- Itching of the skin, particularly itchiness around the genitals (genital itchiness)
- Slow healing of cuts or wounds
- Having regular yeast infections (thrush)
- Having a skin disorder such as psoriasis or acanthosis nigricans
- Sudden weight loss or loss of muscle mass
Spotting the symptoms of type 2 diabetes
The presence of type 2 diabetes prevents the body from being able to lower blood glucose levels as efficiently as in people without diabetes. For this reason, the symptoms of type 2 diabetes may be more noticeable following meals.
Measuring higher than normal levels of blood pressure or cholesterol may indicate a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, particularly if you are overweight and it is therefore wise to be aware of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes.
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition where the insulin your pancreas makes can’t work properly, or your pancreas can’t make enough insulin.
This is important because over a long period of time, high glucose levels in your blood can seriously damage you heart, your eyes, your feet and your kidneys. These are known as the complications of diabetes. But with the right treatment and care, the long-term effects of diabetes and high glucose levels can be managed.
What causes Type 2 diabetes?
About 90% of people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes. We all need insulin to live. It does an essential job. It allows the glucose in our blood to enter our cells and fuel our bodies. When you have Type 2 diabetes, your body still breaks down carbohydrate from your food and drink and turns it into glucose.
The pancreas responds to this by releasing insulin. But because this insulin can’t work properly, blood glucose (also called sugar) levels keep rising.So more insulin is released. For some people with Type 2 diabetes this can eventually tire the pancreas out, meaning their body makes less and less insulin. This causes even higher blood sugar levels.
Remission in Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is still a serious condition. It can be lifelong and get worse over time for many, but it doesn’t have to be like this for everyone. Remission in people with Type 2 diabetes means that your blood sugar levels go back to normal and you don’t need to take diabetes medication any more. This can be life-changing for those who can go into remission, but it's not possible for everyone.
Managing Type 2 diabetes
But with the right treatment and care, the effects of diabetes and high blood sugar levels can potentially be reversed, and certainly managed. So if you’ve got any of the symptoms we've mentioned, see your doctor as soon as possible.
There are different ways of treating Type 2 diabetes. Some people can manage it by healthier eating, being more active and losing weight. Most people will need medication to bring their blood glucose down to a safe level.
Whatever the treatment, everyone with Type 2 diabetes needs to learn how to live with it. And we help people do exactly that.
How long does it take for the symptoms of type 2 diabetes to develop?
Type 2 diabetes symptoms may be very minor for a long time, and suddenly become more serious.
This is why type 2 diabetes often goes unnoticed for many years. It is believed that up to 850,000 adults could have type 2 diabetes and be unaware of it.It’s important not to disregard the symptoms of diabetes as being down to getting older.
Catching the symptoms early
It is important to catch the symptoms early so that the damage caused by type 2 damage is limited. If type 2 diabetes is caught at a later stage, some of the complications may be present at diagnosis, such as:
Type 2 diabetes can also lead to a significant loss of the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. This is referred to beta cell turnover.
Catching and treating type 2 diabetes early can help to prevent a significant loss of insulin producing cells, which may help to prevent or delay a need to take insulin injections.