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Diabetes: Recognize the Signs and Save a Life

WakeMed Health & Hospitals Diseases & Conditions, Pediatric Endocrinology, Primary Care

Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90 to 95% of all cases of diabetes — a disease that typically affects those 45 and older. Yet, with alarming speed, more and more children and young adults are being diagnosed. While some cases may be due to heredity, often diagnosis goes hand-in-hand with obesity, sedentarism and unhealthy eating habits.

According to the CDC, about 1 in 4 people with diabetes don’t even know they have it. Could that be you?

Symptoms

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes are often subtle and easy to ignore until advanced stages set in years later. Symptoms of diabetes include tingling in the hands and feet, urinating a lot, feeling hungry, experiencing excessive thirst, feeling fatigued, losing weight without making an effort and experiencing blurry vision. There can also be symptoms on the skin, such as sores that take a very long time to heal and excessive skin dryness. If you experience any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor for a blood sugar test right away. You can alternately call your local pharmacy for testing.

Once you’ve been diagnosed, it is important to develop healthy habits to prevent chronic illness that can result in amputation, kidney failure, vision loss and more.

Diabetes Management

A few ways to manage type 2 diabetes and keep severe symptoms at bay include the following:

  • Determine healthy methods to manage and decrease stress.
  • Monitor your feet and skin for wounds and sores.
  • Pay attention to vision changes and seeking medical care right away.
  • Recognize the signs of low or high blood sugar and keeping supplies on hand to stabilize it.
  • Test blood sugar levels daily and recording the results to share at your doctor’s appointments.
  • Develop health eating habits and enjoyable alternatives for junk food.
  • Get active and maintain an exercise regimen.
  • Consistently administer insulin to yourself if it has been prescribed by your doctor.

Support through WakeMed

If you have been diagnosed with type or type 2 diabetes, WakeMed has specialized services to support you at any age.

Pediatrics

Our WakeMed Physician Practices – Pediatric Endocrinology team provides care for children and adolescents from birth to age 18. Call 919-350-7584 to schedule an appointment.

Beyond compassionate care, they also provide information about diabetes camps for kids, school information, the Insulin Pump Program, research opportunities and more.

Adult Services

Adult services are also comprehensive. Our WakeMed caring, experienced staff of certified diabetes nurses and registered dietitians can provide the tools you need to manage diabetes daily. Resources include classes, information on pregnancy and diabetes, support groups, and more. For more information, call 919-350-7292.

 

Sources

https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type2.html

https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/symptoms.html

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