Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms

You may not always notice symptoms of type 2 diabetes even though the disease is starting to do damage to your body. Here are some symptoms of type 2 diabetes to be aware of, so you can talk to your healthcare provider if you’re concerned.

What are symptoms of type 2 diabetes?

• intense thirst: you may be dehydrated as a result of urinating more
• constant hunger due to a lack of insulin and your body’s inability to convert food into energy
• fatigue or lack of energy
• frequent urination: your body may be getting rid of excess sugar in the blood through urination
• blurred vision: when blood sugars are high, they can pull fluid from your eyes
• losing substantial weight without trying (e.g., 10 lbs or more than 5% of your body weight)
• frequent infections manifested through recurring flu-like symptoms (e.g., headache, chills, fatigue) or bladder and yeast infections
• numbness or tingling in the hands or feet due to nerve damage caused by high blood sugar
• cuts and wounds that take longer than usual to heal due to poor circulation caused by high blood sugar
• areas of darkened skin in the armpits and neck caused by increased insulin levels

Keep in mind that the following factors may signal type 2 diabetes as well:

• high blood sugar levels
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol levels 

Here’s more information on potential type 2 diabetes symptoms that aren’t always apparent.

How do I know if I may be at risk for type 2 diabetes?

While there’s no definitive research yet on what causes type 2 diabetes, we do know that there are factors that can put you at higher risk for developing the disease. These include:

• Being 40 years of age or older
• Having a family history of type 2 diabetes (mother, father, brother, sister)
• Being a member of a high-risk ethnic population, such as Aboriginal, Hispanic, Asian, South Asian or African descent
• Being obese or overweight, especially around the abdomen
• Having a history of gestational diabetes or having given birth to a baby that is more than 9 pounds (4 kilograms)
• Being diagnosed with prediabetes or diabetes-related complications, such as eye, kidney or nerve problems
• Being inactive
• Having high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol
• Having heart disease
• Having polycystic ovary syndrome
• Having Acanthosis nigricans (brown or black raised areas on the body with skin folds, usually seen in people with obesity) and other skin complications
• Having certain psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder
• Having obstructive sleep apnea

How is type 2 diabetes diagnosed?

There are four different tests that can determine if you have diabetes:

• Fasting plasma glucose (no food or drink for at least 8 hours): ≥ 7.0 mMol/L
• Oral glucose tolerance test (blood test is done at fasting and 2 hours after a glucose drink): ≥ 11.1 mMol/L (2 hours after glucose drink)
• A1C (average blood sugar values over the past 2-3 months):≥6.5%
• Random plasma glucose (taken any time): ≥ 11.1 mMol/L

Find more details on each of these tests here.