Type 2 diabetes symptoms will often develop gradually and may not always show symptoms at an earlier stage.

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Type 2 diabetes symptoms can differ slightly from symptoms of type 1 diabetes.

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Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong condition. Once symptoms of diabetes have developed into the condition, the body will then be unable to regulate the amount of glucose in the blood.

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It is important to catch the symptoms as early as possible to limit damage to the body.

 

Although there are 3 main diabetes signs shared by all people with diabetes (Polyuria - the need to urinate frequently; Polydipsia - increased thirst & fluid intake; Polyphagia - increased appetite), type 2 diabetes may sometimes exhibit some specific symptoms, such as certain skin disorders.

 

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes often develops slowly, over a period of years, and the symptoms can therefore also develop gradually.

At diagnosis, people who have type 2 diabetes may show little or no symptoms of the condition.

Because the symptoms develop slowly, type 2 diabetes may commonly be diagnosed following routine medical examinations or screening tests for non-related conditions.

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Symptoms of type 2 diabetes may include:

• Feeling tired during the day, particularly after meals (fatigue)

• Often feeling hungry, particularly if you feel hungry shortly after eating (polyphagia)

• Urinating more often than normal, particular needing to do so during the night (polyuria)

• Feeling abnormally thirsty (polydipsia)

• Blurred vision

• Itching of the skin, particularly itchiness around the genitals (genital itchiness)

• Slow healing of cuts or wounds

• Having regular yeast infections (thrush)

• Having a skin disorder such as psoriasis or acanthosis nigricans

• Sudden weight loss or loss of muscle mass

 

Spotting the symptoms of type 2 diabetes

The presence of type 2 diabetes prevents the body from being able to lower blood glucose levels as efficiently as in people without diabetes. For this reason, the symptoms of type 2 diabetes may be more noticeable following meals.

Measuring higher than normal levels of blood pressure or cholesterol may indicate a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, particularly if you are overweight and it is therefore wise to be aware of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

 

How long does it take for the symptoms of type 2 diabetes to develop?

Type 2 diabetes symptoms may be very minor for a long time, and suddenly become more serious.

This is why type 2 diabetes often goes unnoticed for many years. It’s important not to disregard the symptoms of diabetes as being down to getting older.

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Catching the symptoms early

It is important to catch the symptoms early so that the damage caused by type 2 damage is limited.

If type 2 diabetes is caught at a later stage, some of the complications  may be present at diagnosis, such as:

• Neuropathy

• Retinopathy

• Nephropathy

 

Type 2 diabetes can also lead to a significant loss of the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. This is referred to beta cell turnover.

Catching and treating type 2 diabetes early can help to prevent a significant loss of insulin producing cells, which may help to prevent or delay a need to take insulin injections.

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