Diabetes, dubbed the silent killer, is a condition that affects millions of people across America. Type 2 diabetes in particular, is the most common form of the disease—affecting approximately 90-percent of total diabetes sufferers.
The only surefire way to test for diabetes is by getting your doctor to perform a blood sugar test, however, the following 15 symptoms can also be indicative of whether or not you may have type 2 diabetes…
1. Re-occurring Infections
Type 2 diabetes causes those suffering from the condition to live in an immune-suppressed state, which ultimately leaves them susceptible to a variety of bacterial infections—such as yeast (or Candida) infections, pneumonia, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and skin rashes. Basically, “immunosuppression” means that the immune system is unable to fight off infection.
Yeast infections are among the most common because high blood sugar creates an environment that is favorable for yeast. “Glucose is fuel for yeast. The more that’s around, the more they can multiply,” says Mary Vouyiouklis Kellis, MD, an endocrinologist at Cleveland Clinic to Women’s Health.
For the diabetic, infections are a constant concern since those suffering from the condition are more prone to developing infections due to high blood sugar levels wearing down the immune system and it’s ability to protect the body. Nerve damage, which also results due to low blood flow to the extremities (legs, feet, arms, hands) in some diabetic patients, can raise the risk of infection.
