Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease that alters how the body utilizes food to generate energy, resulting in high blood sugar levels. It is considered one of the leading causes of death worldwide. It is highly prevalent in modern and developing countries because of bad eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle.
Unfortunately, many people with type 2 diabetes don’t get diagnosed until they get one or more complications. In this article, you will know the main diabetes symptoms that need you to seek help immediately to get the chance to start treatment as early as possible.
Type 2 diabetes symptoms
Type 2 diabetes develops slowly over a long time. Symptoms can be not very obvious, and people with the disease may live many years before getting any symptoms. When symptoms start to show up, they may include:
- Increased thirst and frequent urination
- Dry mouth
- Unexplained weight loss
- Over-hunger
- Numbness of the extremities
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Signs of Insulin Resistance such as; Acanthosis Nigricans, which means dark lines in the armpits and around the neck
If someone notices one of these symptoms and has one or more factors that increase the risk of diabetes, he should consult a physician. Moreover, one can start immediately with lifestyle modification to get blood sugar levels back to normal.
Diabetes risk factors
Obesity (BMI ≥ 30)
Physical inactivity
Family history
Age ≥ 45
Lifestyle modifications for diabetes management
Applying healthy changes to your everyday life is an essential step in managing diabetes symptoms. In addition, these modifications can help you avoid complications of diabetes.
Moreover, if someone has some diabetes risk factors or is prediabetic -characterized by high blood sugar levels but not high enough to get a diabetes diagnosis- these modifications can prevent the disease.
These modifications can be as follow:
- Set a weight goal of about 5% less than the current weight.
- Prepare balanced healthy meals more often.
- Control your portion size using measuring tools and the plate method.
- Modify your environment to help you reach your goals, such as: making grocery lists before you go shopping and putting healthy snacks on a shelf to be seen easily.
- Adopt a more active lifestyle by going for a daily walk with a friend or simply leaving the car when you go shopping. The point is to do whatever fits you more to make it a habit.
Diabetes symptoms in children
Diabetes in kids is mainly associated with a lack of insulin, as in type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is rare in children. The symptoms in children are like those in adults except that they present differently, as the child may not be willing to play with his peers because of a lack of energy.
