7 Warning Signs and Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

More than 100 million American adults are living withprediabetesor type 2 diabetes, according to the latest estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But the number of people who know they have the diseases which can lead to life-threatening complications, like blindness and heart disease is far lower.

Data from theCDCsuggests that of the estimated 30.3 million Americans withtype 2 diabetes, 7.2 million, or 1 in 4 adults living with the disease, are not aware of it. And among those people living withprediabetes, only 11.6 percent are aware that they have the disease.

Prediabetesis marked by higher than normal blood sugar levels though not high enough to qualify as diabetes. TheCDCnotes that this condition often leads to full-blown type 2 diabetes within five years if it's left untreated through diet and lifestyle modifications.

Type 2 diabetes, which is often diagnosed when a person has anA1Cof at least 7 on two separate occasions, can lead to potentially serious issues, likeneuropathy, or nerve damage; vision problems; an increased risk of heart disease; and otherdiabetes complications. A persons A1C is the two- to three-month average of his or her blood sugar levels.

According to theMayo Clinic, doctors may use other tests to diagnose diabetes. For example, they may conduct a fasting blood glucose test, which is a blood glucose test done after a night of fasting. While a fasting blood sugar level of less than 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) is normal, one that is between 100 to 125 mg/dL signalsprediabetes, and a reading that reaches 126 mg/dL on two separate occasions means you have diabetes.

People with full-blown type 2 diabetes are not able to use the hormone insulin properly, and have whats called insulin resistance. Insulin is necessary for glucose, or sugar, to get from your blood into your cells to be used for energy. When there is not enough insulin or when the hormone doesnt function as it should glucose accumulates in the blood instead of being used by the cells. This sugar accumulation may lead to the aforementioned complications.

You can help assessyour chances of developing type 2 diabetesby requesting an A1C test from your doctor, as well as by talking with your family about their health history with the disease, asyour geneticsmay influence your risk of diabetes.

Other risk factors of type 2 diabetes include obesity, inactivity, old age, a personal history of gestational diabetes, and race, according to theMayo Clinic. For instance, if you are Hispanic, African-American, or Asian-American, you may be at a greater risk of type 2 diabetes.

Nevertheless, you can preventprediabetesand type 2 diabetes by maintaining a healthy weight; following a healthy diet thats rich in whole grains, fruit, vegetables, and lean protein; getting sufficient sleep; and exercising regularly.

But preventing the disease from progressing if you already have it requires first being able to spot the signs and symptoms of diabetes when they appear. While sometype 2 diabetes symptomsmay not ever show up, you can watch out for the following common signs of the disease and alert your doctor, especially if you have any of the common risk factors for diabetes. Also keep in mind that while most signs of type 2 diabetes are the same in men and women, there are some distinctions.

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7 Warning Signs and Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes