Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms

People who have a family history of diabetes as well as diabetes are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Also referred to as non-insulin dependent diabetes, type 2 diabetes is a condition wherein the body, over time, becomes resistant to insulin. This results to increased levels of blood sugar.

The pancreas is responsible for producing insulin, a hormone. Insulin levels go up or down depending on how much glucose is present in the body. In general, insulin levels go up after eating, and go down when the stomach is empty. Insulin's primary function is to move glucose from the digestive system to the different parts of the body. If there is too much glucose in your body, the extra glucose is moved to the liver, where it is stored until the body becomes low on glucose. In essence, the pancreas, insulin, glucose and liver are all working together to achieve a highly complex balancing act.

One of two things happen to people with type 2 diabetes. Either their pancreas stops producing enough insulin that the body needs or their body becomes resistant to insulin. In both occurrences, the result is the same: high blood sugar levels. 

One symptom of type 2 diabetes that is often overlooked is extreme fatigue. The most logical reason for this is that extreme fatigue is a very general symptom; people, including those who don't have type 2 diabetes can experience extreme fatigue. Extreme fatigue is often seen in people who are leading a hectic lifestyle, not getting adequate sleep and rest, and constantly under stress. However, it is best to consult a doctor if extreme fatigue appears to not be caused by lifestyle, sleep or stress. 

Another symptom of type 2 diabetes is drastic weight gain or weight loss. People who start eating more are likely to gain weight. As the weight goes up, excess fat gets stored up and can make the body even more resistant to insulin. However, there are people who lose weight despite eating more. The weight loss is a result of the muscles not being able to be supplied with the glucose it needs in order to exert energy.

Another symptom of type 2 diabetes is blurry vision. The blurriness happens because fluid from the tissues, including the lenses in the eyes, are pulled away when blood sugar levels are high. This makes it hard to focus the vision. It has been found that a number of vision problems are corrected once diabetes is treated. If the diabetes is left untreated, however, the blurriness could progress to blindness. 

People who frequently have infections or whose infections and wounds are slow to heal may have type 2 diabetes. Diabetes has been found to slow down the healing process. In addition, frequent yeast infections are often an indication of type 2 diabetes. 

Other symptoms of type 2 diabetes include redness, swelling and inflammation of the gums. It is recommended that you talk to a doctor if any of these symptoms of type 2 diabetes becomes apparent. If left untreated, diabetes could cause the gums could become infected. The sooner that type 2 diabetes is detected, the sooner you can be on your way to becoming healthy again.