Type 2 diabetes causes a person’s blood sugar levels to become too high. Early signs include increased thirst, frequent urination, and tiredness. Type 2 diabetes is a common condition. More than 37 million peopleTrusted Source in the United States have diabetes, with 90–95% having type 2 diabetes. The onset of type 2 diabetes can be gradual, and symptoms can be mild during the early stages. As a result, many people may not realize that they have this condition.
In this article, we look at the early signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes and the importance of early diagnosis. We also discuss the risk factors for developing this condition. Join 400K fellow subscribers in receiving our weekly diabetes email for actionable tips on eating wisely, news on research breakthroughs, and more.
When blood sugar levels are high, the kidneys try to remove the excess sugar by filtering it out of the blood. This can lead to a person needing to urinate more frequentlyTrusted Source, particularly at night. The frequent urination necessary to remove excess sugar from the blood can result in the body losing additional water. Over time, this can cause dehydration and make a person feel more thirsty than usual. People with diabetes often do not get enough energy from their food. The digestive system breaks food down into a simple sugar called glucose, which the body uses as fuel. In people with diabetes, not enough of this glucose moves from the bloodstream into the body’s cells. As a result, people with type 2 diabetes often feel constantly hungry, regardless of how recently they have eaten.
Type 2 diabetes can impact a person’s energy levels and cause them to feelTrusted Source fatigued. Diabetes fatigue occurs due to insufficient sugar moving from the bloodstream into the body’s cells. An excess of sugar in the blood can damage the tiny blood vessels in the eyes, which can cause blurry vision. This can occur in one or both eyes.
High blood sugar levels can also lead to swelling of the eye lens. This can cause blurred vision but will improve when blood sugar levels reduce. If a person with diabetes goes without treatment, the damage to these blood vessels can become more severeTrusted Source, and permanent vision loss may eventually occur.
