Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms

Type 2 diabetes begins with something called insulin resistance. This is when cells throughout your body start to ignore insulin, the hormone that helps glucose -- the body's fuel -- get into cells. It may be that insulin can't get glucose into the cell or that large amounts of insulin are required before the cells will let the glucose in. In either case, glucose builds up in the blood.

Insulin resistance causes no symptoms. And it usually takes insulin resistance months or years to progress to type 2 diabetes. People often dismiss the signs or symptoms of full-blown type 2 diabetes.

Elevated blood sugar levels from type 2 diabetes can lead to dangerous complications.
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Over time, the elevated blood sugar levels that result from type 2 diabetes can
take a toll on the body and lead to many dangerous complications.

As your blood glucose level increases, your body pulls water out of the blood so that it can get rid of excess glucose in the urine (making you thirsty and needing to go to the bathroom frequently). Meanwhile, your cells are screaming for fuel (triggering the feeling of hunger).

Excess glucose in the blood interferes with white blood cells, so it takes cuts and sores a long time to heal. Meanwhile, germs and bacteria feed off the extra glucose in the blood, which makes them stronger, promoting infections. Tingling or numbness in the hands and feetis a common diabetic symptom because glucose damages nerves. Other symptoms of type 2 diabetes include blurry eyesight and erectile dysfunction. But this is just the beginning. Over time, elevated blood glucose levels can lead to more serious complications, such as:

Heart Disease
Many type 2 diabetes patients already have an increased risk for heart disease because they are overweight. Unfortunately, increased blood sugar also takes a toll on the vascular system. On this page, you will learn about the link between diabetes and heart disease, and how to avoid it.

Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy is -- in some ways -- the most severe diabetes complication because it can lead to so many other problems. Damage to the nervous system is also partly responsible for diabetic foot, eye, and digestive problems. In this section, you will learn about what causes diabetic neuropathy and how to treat it.

Diabetic Kidney Disease
Diabetes is responsible for almost half of the reported cases of kidney failure in United States each year. Here you will learn about the connection between diabetes and kidney disease and how you can avoid it.

Foot Problems
It's not unusual for the feet to take a beating. On this page, you will find out why simple cuts and blisters on the feet are a special concern for people with type 1 diabetes.

Diabetic Retinopathy
If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can eventually result in blindness. Learn how high blood sugar can damage the sensitive tissues of the eye.

Digestive Problems
Learn about the symptoms of type 1 diabetes that indicate damage to the gastrointestinal system; these can range from mild to serious.

Bladder Problems
Learn about how type 1 diabetes can cause troubling or inconvenient bladder problems, such as loss of bladder control and frequent urination. You can also find out about the nerve damage caused by type 1 diabetes that can lead to urinary tract infections.

Sexual Dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction can be embarrassing, but it can also indicate serious problems in the body. Learn about the how the same vascular problems that result in sexual dysfunction affect other blood vessels in your body.

Psychological Issues
Living with type 1 diabetes can wear on the mind -- just as it does the body. Learn why it's important to care for your mental health while managing type 1 diabetes.

Skin Problems
Skin is the body's first line of defense against would-be invaders like bacteria. Find out more about why type 1 diabetes increases the likelihood of skin problems.

Hypoglycemia
The result of managing your blood sugar a little too succesfully, hypoglycemia means your blood sugar level has dropped too low, and cells don't get the fuel they need. Learn about how to recognize the signs and then deal with hypoglycemia.

Hyperglycemia
This term can refer to a case of acute, very high blood sugar that can lead to other serious conditions. Learn about how to manage hyperglycemia.

For more information on diabetes in general, try the following links:
  • To learn more about diabetes in general, including diagnosis, causes, symptoms, and treatment, visit our main Diabetes page.
  • Our main Type 1 Diabetes page will tell you more about this form of diabetes, commonly called, "juvenile diabetes."
  • To find out more about type 2 diabetes, which has reached the level of national health epidemic, go to our main Type 2 Diabetes page.
Suggestions for a Diabetic Diet
One of the most important aspects of treating and controlling diabetes is monitoring the food you take into your body. However, there may be more wiggle room than you think. To learn more about proper nutrition and diabetes, try the following links:
  • Our main Diabetic Diet page will show you which food groups are diabetes-friendly and which ones you should avoid.  
  • Visit our Diabetic Recipes page to find simple, delicious meals you can make that won't send our blood sugar into a tailspin.

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.