Type 2 diabetes: Five warning signs you have high blood sugar

TYPE 2 diabetes symptoms may include thirst, hunger and a dry mouth. The condition occurs when your body cannot absorb the sugar in your bloodstream, causing its levels to rise. These are five signs that you are suffering from high blood sugar levels.

Type 2 diabetes is caused by problems with the hormone insulin, which mean the body has difficulties absorbing sugar from its blood stream.

You are more likely to develop the condition if you are overweight, have a relative who has had type 2 diabetes or have high blood pressure, among other factors.

An inability to absorb blood sugar will lead to high levels in the blood stream, called hyperglycaemia.

This is defined by the World Health Organisation as a blood sugar level exceeding seven mmol/L when fasting or a level of 11.0 mmol/L two hours after a meal.

These are five warning signs that you have the high blood sugar levels, according to diabetes.co.uk.

Regular/above-average urination

This happens because more sugar is passing into the kidneys, which filter urine from the blood, causing more water to also be moved from the blood to the kidneys, making you wee more often.

The NHS says that you will observe this during the day and night, by needing to wee regularly.

Weakness or feeling tired

Many sufferers of the condition will feel tired, lethargic or fatigued at times, according to diabetes.co.uk. This will most likely follow meals, they advise.

The symptom occurs because sugar cannot get into our cells, due to problems with insulin, meaning they do not receive the energy they need.

But, tiredness may also be caused by “stress, hard work or a lack of a decent night’s sleep.”

Weight loss

“Type 2 diabetes is very closely associated with weight, with over 90 per cent of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics above their ideal weight.”

The dropping weight happens because your body is not absorbing enough blood sugar, so is having to burn its stored energy.

Increased thirst

This happens as more water is pulled out of your blood stream than usual, causing you to also need to drink more.

Six to eight glasses of water should be drunk a day to “replace” normal water loss, according to the NHS.

Vision blurring

It can affect one eye, or both, and refers to the loss of sharpness of vision.

High blood sugar levels resulting from diabetes can affect your vision by causing the lens inside the eye to swell, which causes this blurring.

If you think you have type 2 diabetes you should see your GP immediately. They will arrange a urine and blood test for you to check blood sugar levels, which will show whether you have the condition.

The NHS says that, “many people have type two diabetes symptoms without realising.

“This is because symptoms don’t necessarily make you feel unwell.”

They may then recommend a lifestyle and diet change, as well as offering medication.

One man beat the condition by taking up running.