Educating yourself about the causes and risk factors of Diabetes Miletus can help prevent the disease and delay the actual appearance of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes. This is a disease that has no cure, but which can be delayed or prevented with the help of lifestyle intervention.

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes manifest very gradually, and in fact you may have the disease for years before you actually experience palpable symptoms of it. For this reason, the risk factors of the disease are important to know more about.

Risk factors for type 2 diabetes

Symptoms-of-Type-2-DiabetesUnavoidable risk factors

Those who have a family history of diabetes are more liable to have the disease. Age is another contributing factor, with the older the person, the higher their chances of developing the disease. Also certain ethnic groups such as Asian Americans, Hispanics and African Americans are more likely to develop symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

Levels of activity, Weight and fat distribution

Being overweight is one of the biggest predictors of the disease. Also those who have more fat deposits on their abdomen are at right risk of diabetes. Physical activity decreases your risk of diabetes. Not only does physical activity help in controlling excess weight, it also helps metabolize blood sugar and makes cells more sensitive to insulin.

Other conditions

Women who have gestational diabetes may be predisposed to type two diabetes later in life as well, even though the condition could resolve soon after childbirth. Also women who deliver very large babies, (heavier than 9 pounds) are at higher risk of the disease. Those who have pre-diabetes (high blood sugar, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes) are also at risk of diabetes if their sugar is not controlled.

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes

Increased thirst and hunger

Insulin is the hormone that regulates carbohydrate and fat metabolism, causing the organs to absorb sugar from the blood to store it in the liver and the muscles. When the body becomes resistant to insulin, the sugar uptake from the blood becomes lower and the amount of sugar circulating in the blood increases. This causes fluid to be excreted at a higher rate. Also with insufficient sugar being metabolized the cells become depleted of energy. Both these factors cause a person to feel hungrier and thirstier than usual.

Polyuria

The urge to urinate more frequently may be among the first noted symptoms of type 2 diabetes. Since one may have the urge to drink more water, one will also have to urinate more often. High sugar excreted along with the urine is also a symptom.

Weight loss and fatigue

Since the body is not getting enough energy from sugar, it uses energy from stored fat and muscle causing weight loss even if a person is eating more than before. For the same reason one may experience lower energy levels and get tired more easily.

Other symptoms of type 2 diabete

Blurred vision, poor healing and areas of darkened skin may also be noted.