Type 2 diabetes, the most common type, is a disease that can sneak up on you. As doctors will tell you, you can have it without obvious signs and symptoms and even when you have symptoms, they may be subtle, and you could easily dismiss them. You may already be aware of the common signs of type 2 diabetes, but these symptoms don’t always occur in the initial stages. Typical signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes you might already be aware of include:
- Frequent urination and getting up to urinate at night
- Increased thirst
- Increased hunger
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
It’s smart to be aware of these, but many people have less obvious indications of this health condition, and you don’t want to miss it since, over time, diabetes affects blood vessels, nerves, and most organs in your body. It’s important to be aware of more subtle signs that your body isn’t processing glucose in a healthy manner. Let’s look at some subtle signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes that can sneak up on you.
Frequent Yeast Infections
Yeast infections are more prevalent in women than men, but they can affect either gender. They’re common even in people with a healthy blood sugar level but they occur more frequently in people with a high blood sugar level.
For women, yeast infections often show up in the vaginal region, where they cause itching, redness, and irritation. In both sexes, yeast can cause redness and irritation in other areas, particularly between skin folds and other moist areas.
Why are yeast infections more common in people with type diabetes? Some yeast bacteria normally live in the vaginal area, but certain factors can cause them to overgrow and trigger an infection.
When your blood sugar is elevated due to undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, it creates a sugar-rich environment that yeast thrives on. Type 2 diabetes can also suppress immunity. That’s important since a healthy immune system helps keeps yeast from becoming dominant and triggering an infection. When an elevated blood sugar suppresses immunity, yeast can over grow and cause an infection.
An occasional vaginal yeast infection isn’t unusual, especially in women, but frequent infections may be a sign of undiagnosed type 2 diabetes and are worth checking out. Another place where yeast infections occur is in the mouth (oral thrush). Yeast can also overgrow in moist areas, like between skin folds, and in areas where sweat accumulates.
Slow Healing Wounds
An elevated blood sugar level makes it harder for wounds to heal. In some cases, poor wound healing is the only sign that blood glucose is too high.
Why does a high blood sugar level slow wound healing? Diabetics often have reduced circulation, making it harder for nutrients and oxygen to reach an injured area. Plus, elevated blood sugar slows the body’s immune response, making it harder for healing to occur.
If cuts and scrapes take a long time to heal, see your healthcare provider for an evaluation. Also, gum inflammation or gingivitis is more common in people with type 2 diabetes. So, bleeding or swollen gums can be another tip-off that your blood sugar is too high.
Blurred Vision that Comes and Goes
Even in the initial stages of diabetes, vision can be affected. A high blood sugar level causes swelling behind the lens in your eyes and can cause your vision to blur or become unclear. The blurriness may come and go, and you might dismiss it as simply needing glasses, but it could be undiagnosed diabetes.
The good news? Getting your blood sugar level back into the normal range improves blurred vision due to diabetes. Any time you have blurred vision, see a healthcare provider, as it can be a sign of other eye problems or problems with your brain or nervous system.
Brain Fog
High blood sugar levels affect your brain too and make it difficult to focus and concentrate. In the early stages of type 2 diabetes, blood sugar fluctuations that occur after meals or after exercise can trigger brain fog and even cause lack of motivation and difficulty thinking or remembering. Foggy thinking is something you might dismiss if you haven’t had a good night’s sleep but if it happens often, check with your healthcare provider.
Diabetes also damages blood vessels in your brain over time and increases the risk of stroke and dementia longer term. The early you get a diagnosis and bring your blood glucose down, the better.
Digestive Issues
A condition called gastroparesis is more common in people with type 2 diabetes. This condition causes food to leave your stomach slower. Some symptoms are bloating, abdominal distension, nausea, vomiting, and feeling full after eating only a small amount.
Why does this happen? Elevated blood sugar can affect the vagus nerve, a nerve that controls how quickly your stomach empties food, causing food to stay in your stomach longer.
Estimates show that up to 40% of people with diabetes will develop gastroparesis at some point in their life, although this condition also has other causes. An occasional episode of indigestion is usually nothing to worry about, but if you’re having it frequently, don’t ignore it.
Know the Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes Too
Are you at elevated risk for type 2 diabetes? Here are some risk factors:
- Being overweight or obese
- Family history of diabetes
- Age (risk starts to rise after age 50)
- Ethnic group (Asian, African American, Hispanic, and Native American)
- Physical inactivity
- History of gestational diabetes during pregnancy
- History of cardiovascular disease such as heart attack or stroke
- History of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) diagnosed before menopause
The Bottom Line?
Diabetes is a disease that can sneak up on you. Even though you don’t have the obvious signs and symptoms, diabetes can still damage blood vessels throughout your body and affect your nerves too. Farmiliarize yourself with these five signs of “silent diabetes,” and consult your doctor if you develop them.
References:
- Nur’s Clin North Am. 1990 Mar;25(1):247-61. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2179891
- American Diabetes Association. “Eye Complications”
- org/living-with-diabetes/complications/eye-complications/
- Merck Manual. Eighteenth edition. 2002.
- “Type 2 Diabetes | CDC.” cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type2.html.
- “Type 2 diabetes – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic.” 20 Jan. 2021, mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20351193.
- “Type 2 Diabetes | NIDDK.” niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/type-2-diabetes.
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