14 November 2011
According to the Diabetes Association of India, almost 98 percent of all diabetes cases belong to the Type 2 category or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus - in other words the diabetes one gets with poor lifestyle choices. Usually occurring in adults over 30 and overweight, type 2 Diabetes can be controlled through weight loss, diet and exercise. Let's take a look at some of the vital warning signs for Type 2 Diabetes.
Excessive thirst:If you find yourself drinking more water than usual, and still feel that you just can't get enough, it could be an indication of Type 2 Diabetes. This is because due to the excess of glucose in your blood, your kidneys have to work harder to absorb the additional sugar. However, some of the sugar still remains unabsorbed which is then excreted along with body fluids. This is the main reason why a diabetic patient feels dehydrated all the time.
Sudden weight loss:Unexplained loss of weight is primarily due to the loss of body sugar. You may feel happy that you have suddenly acquired a slim figure, but do not allow this to divert your mind. Always remember that although overweight and obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes, it can eventually lead to sudden loss of body mass. Blurring: Type 2 diabetes may also lead to blurred vision and you may often face difficulty in focusing. This is primarily due to the fact that a portion of the fluids excreted from the body gets drawn by the eyes. If left untreated, it can even lead to complete or partial blindness.
Fatigue and weakness:The loss of water and glucose from the body is the main reason why a diabetic patient always experiences a sense of fatigue and overall weakness. The cells of the body utilize glucose from the foods to produce energy to sustain. The cells sans the glucose are starved and run down.
Headache:Another major sign of type 2 diabetes is constant headaches. This is due to the combined effect of dehydration, malaise and unexplained weight loss.
Dry mouth:One of the most common oral health problems for diabetics is dry mouth or altered salivary flow. Most of us are not aware of the fact that our oral health affects our control of diabetes and that our diabetes control alters our oral hygiene. However, it is seen that in majority of the cases, dry mouth occurs due to medications. Frequent slow-healing infections:
Many renowned physicians across the globe claim that diabetics have frequent infections that are slow-healing in nature. They believe that the condition weakens a person's immune response thereby making it a favorable ground for infections to occur. Some of the most frequently seen infections seen in women are bladder and vaginal infections.