Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition affecting how your body metabolizes sugar.
Insulin plays a vital role in breaking down the carbs into glucose and absorbing them into our cells that acts as a fuel for energy . With type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t use the natural insulin in the body properly. This causes your blood sugar to rise. Over time, too much sugar in your blood can lead to serious health problems, such as heart disease, nerve damage, eye problems, and kidney disease.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 30 million people in the United States have diabetes. Of those, about 95 percent have type 2 diabetes. This illness is most common in those over the age of 45. However, it is also becoming increasingly common in children, teenagers, and young adults today.
Physical inactivity and specific health conditions such as high blood pressure increase your risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes. If you have prediabetes or gestational diabetes during pregnancy, you are more likely to develop this condition. Moreover, your family history and genetics could also influence your chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes can develop slowly. It’s possible you can live with type 2 diabetes for years and not know about it. Hence, here are the symptoms you need to keep a close eye on:
- Extreme thirst
- More frequent urination
- Increases hunger
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Blurry vision
- Slow-healing wounds
- Frequent infections
- Hand or foot numbness or tingling
- Darkened skin patches, most commonly found around the armpits and neck
Symptoms of Diabetes Type 2 in Adults
A number of symptoms can be associated with type 2 diabetes in adults, and they can vary in its severity. Some of the more common symptoms you need to know are:
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Slow healing of cuts and bruises
- Weight loss
- In women, yeast infections.
Your risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases as you get older. This is because your body might grow resistant to insulin, and your pancreas may not function as effectively as it used to.
That being said, complications caused by type 2 diabetes are more prevalent in those 65 and older, and can lead to heart attacks, eye issues, amputation, and renal disease. If you have any of the symptoms above, it’s essential to see your doctor for further treatment.
Symptoms of Diabetes Type 2 in Children
Symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes in children are:
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Blurred vision.
In some cases, children may also experience nausea and vomiting. If your child is displaying any of these symptoms, it is crucial to speak with a doctor as soon as possible as these may indicate diabetes.