Early symptoms of type 2 diabetes

Written by Li Hui Zhi
Endocrinology
Updated on September 24, 2024
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The typical symptoms of type 2 diabetes are referred to as "three excesses and one deficiency." The three excesses include excessive thirst and dry mouth, increased appetite with frequent hunger, and increased urination. The one deficiency refers to weight loss; these are the more typical symptoms. Some patients might often find out about their elevated blood sugar during routine health checks at work. Others may seek medical advice due to issues like skin itchiness or wounds that heal poorly after injury. Some might mainly experience numbness in their hands and feet, or blurred vision among other symptoms.

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incidence of gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes refers to diabetes that appears or is diagnosed during pregnancy, or any degree of glucose tolerance abnormality, which is classified as an independent type of diabetes. Diabetes combined with pregnancy or gestational diabetes can pose serious risks to the health of both mother and child. Before national screening of blood sugar levels during pregnancy was initiated, the detection rate of gestational diabetes was not very high, only 0.24%. However, with the widespread implementation of blood sugar screening during pregnancy, the current incidence rate of gestational diabetes is approximately 1% to 5%.

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How long does prediabetes take to turn into diabetes?

How long it takes for prediabetes to progress into diabetes varies, with no definitive answer, as it differs from person to person. Whether prediabetes will develop into diabetes largely depends on blood sugar control. Clinical experience shows that some individuals never progress to diabetes after adjusting their diet and exercise routines. However, if a patient does not take their condition seriously and fails to change their lifestyle, it might take as little as 2-3 years or as long as 5-10 years to develop into diabetes. Therefore, it is crucial to manage lifestyle promptly upon prediabetes diagnosis, paying attention to blood sugar monitoring and pancreatic function tests.

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Care of diabetic foot

The care of diabetic foot is very important. In our daily life, we need to do the following aspects. First, regularly wash and check both feet. During washing, the water temperature should not be too high. Also, keep the skin moist to prevent it from drying and cracking. Second, choose suitable shoes and socks, preferably loose-fitting to avoid tightness. Third, be careful when trimming toenails, making sure not to damage the skin of the feet. If there are any sores, go to the hospital immediately for treatment. Fourth, avoid using corrosive chemicals on the feet.

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Causes of Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes refers to the abnormality of blood sugar levels that occurs during pregnancy, at which time it is called gestational diabetes. The reason for the occurrence of gestational diabetes is due to significant changes in the body's endocrine hormones after pregnancy. The body releases many hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, which can increase insulin resistance. Thus, a much greater amount of insulin is needed to maintain normal blood sugar levels. If the pancreatic beta cells are not sufficient to compensate for the increased insulin secretion needed to meet the normal metabolic requirements caused by these resistance factors, then elevated blood sugar and abnormal glucose metabolism occur, ultimately leading to gestational diabetes.

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How to treat early-stage diabetes?

In the early stages of diabetes, when blood sugar levels are not very high, it can be controlled through diet and exercise. This can be achieved by losing weight, reducing calorie intake, and increasing calorie consumption through exercise to lower blood sugar levels. However, for some obese patients or those who cannot control their diet, medications can also be used in the early stages to prevent further increases in blood sugar levels. Currently, medications such as metformin and acarbose, which are both effective and relatively inexpensive, are mainly recommended. (Specific medications should be taken under the guidance of a physician.)