Type 2 diabetes is becoming one of the most common ailments people are facing today. Linked to obesity and an unhealthy lifestyle, type 2 diabetes can cause serious damage to a person's health and well-being. It is very important to be able to identify the symptoms of diabetes before they strike.
Common Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetics
It is thought that at least one third of all type 2 diabetes sufferers are not aware that they even have the condition. The common warning signs can easily be attributed to other, less dangerous ailments or ignored. Yet knowing what these symptoms are is very important to knowing when to seek a medical diagnosis.
Here are the most common symptoms:
- increased hunger, especially after eating meals
- increased thirst and a need to drink
- frequent fatigue and a feeling of weakness
- a constant dry mouth
- frequent need to urinate
- urinary infections occurring often
- blurred vision and headaches
Less Common Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes
There are also many less common symptoms that more strongly indicate diabetes. These warning sign are less frequently seen, and are more closely linked to having type 2 diabetes.
Here are the least common symptoms:
- slow to heal sores and cuts
- dark skin changes along the neck and armpits
- increased itchy skin around the groin area
- numb and tingling hands and feet
- decreased vision
People who suffer from any of these symptoms should contact their health provider and schedule an appointment for a diabetes test.
Testing For Type 2 Diabetes
Testing for diabetes is a fairly simple procedure. The most common test is called the fasting plasma glucose test, considered to be one of the most convenient and least expensive tests to give. The patient is required to fast, or abstain from eating and drinking, for eight hours before taking the test. The doctor will then draw a sample of blood and send it to a lab for testing and analysis.
This test will show the health provider what the levels of glucose, or sugar, are in the blood without digestion and insulin production occurring. Some people may have normal results for the fasting plasma glucose test, yet still show symptoms of type 2 diabetes. The doctor may then require a glucose tolerance test to see how well the body handles glucose shortly after a meal.
If levels of blood sugar are shown to be high during these tests, a diagnosis of diabetes will be made.
Life With Type 2 Diabetes
People who suffer from type 2 diabetes can live normal, active lifestyles provided they take care to maintain their healthy. Some may require dietary and lifestyle changes to control their blood sugar levels, or they may be placed on a insulin injection schedule to counter their decreased insulin production.
Sources:
WebMD Discover the Warning Signs of Diabetes (accessed February 1, 2010)
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