9 Early Warning Signs of Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes is when the body does not produce or use insulin efficiently. This results in excess sugar or glucose in the blood. The fact that many people might not notice the signs (such as extreme appetite and tiredness) until it’s too late is even more concerning. This blog post will cover some important type 2 diabetes symptoms to watch out for. We’ll also talk about how diabetes affects children, teenagers, and adults.
Early signs to watch out for
Insulin helps the sugar penetrate into the body cells to be used as energy. Low or inactive insulin leaves sugar accumulated in the bloodstream causing serious health issues affecting the nervous, circulatory, and immune systems of the body. Below are some tell-tale signs of type 2 diabetes that one should be aware of:
Increased thirst and frequent urination
High glucose levels and bladder function issues associated with type 2 diabetes lead to frequent urination. This, along with less saliva secretion, causes dehydration and dryness in the mouth and throat and increases thirst levels in the patient.
Darker skin
If a person’s skin is getting darker around the neck, armpits, and groin, one may need to check one’s blood sugar levels. This condition is called acanthosis nigricans (AN), making the skin feel thicker, velvety, and smoother.
Frequent infections
Diabetes weakens the immune system, making people prone to more infections and illnesses. Look out for recurrent skin, bladder, yeast, and vaginal infections. The excess sugar in the blood makes it difficult for white blood cells to travel in the bloodstream, lowering the body’s fighting ability.
Blurred vision
High blood sugar can damage the vessels in the eyes causing blurry vision. Excess sugar in the blood can also cause swelling, and itching in the eyes. The swelling will however improve when the blood sugar level reduces.