The Early Warning Signals and Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

Very often the early symptoms of diabetes can be confused with other chronic illnesses. Typically, Type 2 Diabetes does not present itself until the age of 40; however more and more children are being diagnosed with this disease every day due to the high rate of obesity and lack of sufficient physical activity.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is the most commonly diagnosed, and is non insulin dependent (NIDDM). It is best controlled by diet and increased exercise. If not properly managed, complications such as renal and cardiovascular disease can result.

It is unfortunate to note that the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes typically go unnoticed for several years, allowing a delay in crucially needed treatment. The characteristics that distinguish this type of diabetes are the resistance to insulin produced by the islet cells which are located in the pancreas.

In An Emergency:

Those that are unaware of having diabetes are at a very high risk for experiencing an emergency event when their symptoms become extreme. In addition, there is an even greater risk of experiencing hypoglycemia or low blood sugar levels, which is the exact opposite of diabetes mellitus.

There are two types of a diabetic emergency:

The first type of diabetic emergency is called hyperglycemia. This will occur when there is not enough insulin and too much glucose in the blood. An onset of hyperglycemia is commonly caused by over eating, lack of physical activity and not taking the proper amount of insulin. This event requires insulin for treatment. If gone untreated, the sufferer can lapse into a diabetic coma.

Hypoglycemia exhibits itself when there is too much insulin and not enough glucose, which can lead to insulin shock. This condition is directly related to too much exercise, not eating enough, and injecting too much insulin. This person is in need of sugar.

Both emergencies have the same measure of assistance. The sufferer can be given something to eat or drink such as milk, orange juice or a candy bar to lessen the severity of the symptoms followed by professional medical care.

What are the early signs:

Elevated urinary output: Occurs due to elevated glucose levels and the body’s attempt to get rid of it. Excessive thirst: Is due to the frequent urination, causing dehydration Impaired vision: Vision may be blurred due to damage to the ocular vascular system Feelings of hunger: Caused by excessive insulin that is not being used properly Lethargy: Is related to the elevated glucose levels Erectile dysfunction Frequent bacterial and fungal infections Slow healing wounds:

If you or someone you know is experiencing one or more of these symptoms, the next step is seeking the assistance of a medical professional for testing to determine the cause. Types of testing performed include:

Blood glucose test: Normal values for glucose is around 110 mg/dl. A reading of 126 mg/dl or more is indicative of diabetes. If your blood sugars are high on two occasions of testing, the diagnosis is most likely diabetes.

Other testing includes:

A Fasting Plasma Glucose An Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) A Random Plasma Glucose Test – No fasting is involved.

The reason for having to fast for eight hours for many of the tests is that eating tends to raise glucose levels. In order to receive a true and accurate reading, going without food for eight hours is necessary.

Having the proper knowledge of signs and symptoms of diabetes as well as being aware of your personal risk factors for the disease is crucial in seeking early treatment and preventing serious complications.

Barb Hicks is a licensed registered nurse and featured health writer on Clivir.com where she shares her experience and knowledge about Diabetic Diet and Is Diabetes Curable.

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