How to Recognize the Symptoms of Diabetes - Part 2
Type 2 or Maturity-Onset Diabetes
This type of diabetes is most often associated with being overweight or obese. It is a condition in which the cells of the body don’t react to insulin or where the amount of insulin produced by the pancreas is not sufficient to provide entry ports for the increased tissue bulk.
Most cases of Type 2 diabetes can be cured by dieting and weight loss. When less food is consumed, less sugar is taken into the body but even more vital, the demands made on the insulin supply are drastically reduced and this relieves the condition in many cases.
Other cases may need to be treated with oral drugs that stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin at least for a while.
The symptoms of type 2 diabetes may be vague and the disease may be insidious and progress gradually. Symptoms may not occur at all in type 2 diabetics but may include:
* Frequent or chronic fatigue
* Frequent or insatiable thirst
* Frequent urination
* Frequent Headache
* Common cuts, boils, and blemishes that heal poorly or not at all
* Frequent, or persistent infections
* Increased appetite, reaping no benefits in terms of increased energy levels
* Unexplained weight loss
The Complications of Diabetes
If diabetes is poorly managed the complications can be very serious. The blood vessels in particular are affected and damage occurs to the eyes, the kidneys, the circulation in the legs (leading to gangrene and bedsores) and the nervous system as well as giving rise to impotence in men. Death cause by arterial disease occurs in about forty percent of diabetic men and is twice as common than is the case in men who are not diabetic.
Since the complications of diabetes are so severe, those who suffer from the condition should be aware of the importance of scrupulous management from the moment they are diagnosed.
Diabetes is a disease that if effectively controlled and managed can have very little impact on the lives of its sufferers. However, if the condition is neglected the impacts may be life-threatening so it is well worth making sure you understand the symptoms of diabetes. If you think you may have diabetes or experience any of the symptoms above consult your doctor immediately for an assessment. The symptoms of diabetes may be the early warning signal that could save your life.
