Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

June 10, 2008 - 7:30am

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Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

by ]]>Karen Schroeder Kassel, MS, RD, MEd]]>

You may have ]]>type 2 diabetes]]> for years before you start to have symptoms. If your symptoms are initially mild, and they gradually increase, they may be hard to notice. In fact, up to 40% of type 2 diabetes patients have no symptoms at the time of diagnosis.

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes may be related either to high blood sugar or due to diabetic complications affecting the eyes, blood vessels and heart, or nerves.

Symptoms may include the following:

Weight loss
Increased urination (especially at night, which can lead to ]]>insomnia]]> )
Increased thirst
Increased hunger
Fatigue
Blurry vision
Irritability
Frequent or recurring infections
Slow wound healing
]]>Foot ulcers]]>
Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
In women: frequent vaginal yeast infections
Problems with gums and teeth
Itching
]]>Impotence]]>
]]>Angina]]> (chest pain)
Painful leg muscles when walking

References:

AACE Diabetes Mellitus Clinical Practice Guidelines Task Force. Medical guidelines for the clinical practice for the management of diabetes mellitus. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists website. Available at: http://www.aace.com/pub/pdf/guidelines/DMGuidelines2007.pdf . Published 2007. Accessed February 12, 2010.

American Diabetes Association. American Diabetes Association position statement: standards of medical care in diabetes 2010. Diabetes Care. 2010;33:S1-S99.

American Diabetes Association website. Available at: http://www.diabetes.org . Accessed February 12, 2010.

Endocrine Society website. Available at: http://www.endo-society.org . Accessed February 12, 2010.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. National Institutes of Health website. Available at: http://www.niddk.nih.gov/ . Accessed February 8, 2006.

Last reviewed Feburary 2010 by ]]>Bridget Sinnott, MD, FACE]]>

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.