Conditions in Depth

This page contains the basic information about Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus .

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Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Symptoms

The symptoms of diabetes are related to high blood glucose levels. They include:

• Excessive urination, thirst and hunger

• Weight loss

• Increased susceptibility to infections, especially yeast or fungal infections of the skin and vagina

Extremely high blood sugar levels can lead to a dangerous complication called hyperosmolar syndrome, also known as hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome (HHNS), hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS), or hyperosmolar coma. Hyperosmolar syndrome is a life-threatening form of dehydration that can result from untreated high blood sugar levels. Hyperosmolar syndrome can complicate a severe acute illness, such as a stroke; it can also happen when poor fluid intake initiates dehydration. In some cases, hyperosmolar coma is the first sign that a person has type 2 diabetes. This dangerous condition causes confused thinking, weakness, nausea or more extreme symptoms such as seizure and coma.

When people with type 2 diabetes take medications to reduce blood sugar, sugar levels may drop below the normal range and cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Symptoms of hypoglycemia include sweating, trembling, dizziness, hunger and confusion. Hypoglycemia that you do not recognize and correct can lead to seizures and loss of consciousness. You can correct hypoglycemia by eating or drinking something with carbohydrates, which raises your blood sugar level.

Type 2 diabetes affects all parts of the body and can cause serious, potentially life-threatening complications, including:

• Atherosclerosis — Metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes are associated with fat buildup in the artery walls. This can impair blood flow to the all the organs. The heart, brain and legs are most often affected.

• Retinopathy — Tiny blood vessels at the back of the eye become damaged by high blood sugar. Caught early, retinopathy damage can be minimized by keeping tight control of blood sugar and by using laser therapy. Untreated retinopathy can lead to blindness.

• Neuropathy — This is nerve damage. The most common type is peripheral neuropathy. The longest nerves in the body, the ones to the legs, are damaged first, causing pain and numbness in the feet. This can advance to cause symptoms in the legs and hands. Autonomic neuropathy is damage to the nerves that control vital functions, such as digestion, sexual function and urination.

• Foot problems — Sores and blisters occur for two reasons: 1) If peripheral neuropathy causes numbness, the person will not feel an irritation or pressure point in the foot. The skin can break down and form an ulcer. 2) Blood circulation can be poor, leading to slow healing. Left untreated, a simple sore can become infected and very large.

• Nephropathy — Damage to the kidneys is more likely if blood sugars remain elevated and high blood pressure is not treated aggressively.