Signs and Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

Intense Thirst
Diabetes produces extreme thirst because the body is trying to compensate for the presence of a high level of sugar in the blood by sending a signal to the brain to water down the blood to dilute the sugar content and prevent dehydration. This mechanism translates into thirst that can't be quenched.

Increased Urination
One of the primary ways your body tries to cope with excess sugar in the blood is by eliminating it in urine. The loss of so much water triggers more thirst, and the increased urination continues because of the high level of glucose in the blood. Fluid loss from excessive urination can lead to sever dehydration, a life-threatening condition in which the body does not have enough fluids for vital organs to function properly.

Extreme Hunger
People with diabetes often become extremely hungry and may lose weight even though they are eating normal amounts of food. The feelings of hunger result from the cells' not properly taking in glucose from food. Even though you are eating more, you don't gain weight and you may even lose weight because your body is not properly processing the calories you eat.

Fatigue
When your muscle cells don't have enough glucose to produce energy, you feel sluggish and tired. Fatigue can be a red flag that tells you that your blood sugar is not under good control. Better management of your blood sugar may translate into less fatigue.

Unusual Weight Loss
Unexplained weight loss occurs because the body can't use glucose to produce energy, so it must resort to burning stored fat and protein. In addition, you may be losing several hundred calories a day of unused glucose in your urine. When stored fat gets used for fuel, you lose weight, but the weight loss includes an excessive loss of protein, a factor that contributes to the symptoms of weakness and fatigue.

Blurred Vision
An abrupt elevation in blood sugar levels can cause the lens of the eye to swell. This swelling can produce a sometimes sudden change in vision toward farsightedness. This means that a normally nearsighted person may actually see an improvement in distance vision without glasses, while a person who doesn't use glasses or who is already farsighted will see a blurring of his or her distance vision.

Infections
High blood sugar can affect your immune system, making you more susceptible to infections, especially yeast infections of the genitals, skin infections, and urinary tract infections. High blood sugar also promotes the growth of bacteria.

Sores That Don't Heal
People with diabetes often have circulation problems that cause poor blood flow to the legs and feet, reducing the delivery of oxygen and other nutrients to these tissues. High blood sugar also impairs the functioning of white blood cells, which defend against bacteria and are important for wound healing. The elevated blood sugar levels that cause your body to lose fluids through urine can make your skin dry and cracked and susceptible to sores and bleeding. All of these factors can combine to produce sores that are slow to heal, especially on the feet.

Source: The American Medical Association: Guide to Living with Diabetes