The three most common warning signs of type 2 diabetes explained

Diabetes is a common condition that affects more than four million people in the UK, and 90 percent of all cases are caused by type 2 diabetes. You could be at risk of high blood sugar if you develop any of these key warning signs.

Type 2 diabetes could be caused by the body not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the body not reacting to insulin.

Without enough of the hormone, the body struggled to convert sugar in the blood into useable energy.

It’s crucial that if you think you may have diabetes, you speak to a doctor as soon as possible.

You should consider speaking to your doctor about diabetes if you start feeling increasingly thirsty.

The symptom, which is also known as polydipsia, is usually one of the first signs of diabetes.

It’s caused by high blood sugar levels in diabetes patients, according to medical website Diabetes.co.uk.

As a result of drinking more fluids, you’ll also likely start passing more urine than normal.

Some patients have also reported an increased appetite; known as polyphagia.

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“The symptoms of type 2 diabetes develop slowly, and many individuals are asymptomatic with the condition often picked up incidentally or during health check-ups,” said Dr Prash Vas, a consultant in diabetes and diabetic foot medicine at London Bridge Hospital (part of HCA UK).

“The three most common symptoms include increased thirst, a higher frequency of urination [especially at night] and increased hunger.

“Less well recognised symptoms include unintended weight loss, constant fatigue, blurry vision, headaches, and frequent infections such as thrush or skin infections or wounds that take time to heal.

“Not infrequently, the existence of type 2 diabetes is picked up when individuals simply present with a major complication of diabetes – such a heart attack, stroke or a foot ulcer.”

But just because you’re feeling unusually thirsty or hungry, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have diabetes.

It’s very normal to drink more fluids if you’ve been doing lots of exercise, or if it’s a particularly warm day.

Meanwhile, feeling excessively hungry could also be a sign of an overactive thyroid, or even not getting enough sleep.

You should speak to a doctor if you’re worried about the signs of diabetes.

Diagnosing the condition early is very important, because patients are more at risk of some deadly complications, including heart disease and strokes.

There’s no way to prevent diabetes, but you can lower your risk of high blood sugar by making just a few lifestyle changes.

Everyone should make sure to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, including five fruit or vegetables.

It’s also crucial to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity every week.

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