Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) also called as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) may be defined as diabetes with resistance to in absence of exogenously administered insulin. It usually appears in middle aged or elderly people.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of type 2 Diabetes?
- Usually type 2 DM has slow and insidious onset.
- Many persons have a long history of mild symptoms which may come and go and which may frequently be ignored or miss diagnosed for years before true diagnosis is made.
- Some persons present with classical symptoms of diabetes including thirst, polydypsia, polyuria, nocturia, tiredness, loss of weight, pruritis vulva or , , loss of libido, change in refraction usually in-direction of myopia, parasthesiae of limbs.The severity of many of the classical symptoms are directly related to the severity of glycosuria.
- Long standing diabetes type 2 will be associated with an abnormal thickening of basement membrane of capillaries through out the body. This per se is not pathognomonic of diabetes. It is a part of normal aging, however increased permeability of thickened basement membrane in diabetes is a unique pathological feature and this impact is seen as micro-angiopathy in kidney’s, retina and nervous system presenting as
- - presents with symptoms of dizziness, abdominal fullness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, incontinence, anhydrosis, and impotence.
- There may be chronic and perforating ulcers in feet and painless arthropathy called as Charcot’s joints.
- There may also be some motor involvement causing muscle weakness and muscle wasting.
Physical signs of Type 2 Diabetics
- Loss of tendon reflexes in lower limbs, diminished vibration sense distally, glow and stocking impairment.
- Vascular: signs like of coronary, peripheral ad cerebral arteries.
- Dermatological lesions: may be seen commonly as vulvitis or balanitis since external genitalia are especially prone to infection by fungi (Candida) flourish on skin and mucous membrane contaminated by glucose. Other skin lesion includes , carbuncles, spotted leg syndrome.
- Sexual: reduction in fertility and libido in females. Not frequently poor obstetric and impotence indicate possibility of DM.
- Hepatomegaly due to fatty or glycogen infiltration. Onset with coma is very rare in type 2 DM. Some times some people have an accidental discovery of diabetes. (Asymptomatic glycosuria).
- Related Topics
- Signs and Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes in children: thirst, urination, weakness, cramps
- Symptoms of Diabetes: Frequent Urination, Excess Thirst, Weight Loss
- Diabetes Symptoms In Men: Signs Of Type 1, Type 2 And Pre Diabetes
- Is Type 2 Diabetes Reversible | Diet For Preventing Type II Diabetes
- Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Diet Plan: Food for Type II Diabetics
I have been a diabetic for 5-6 years, recently started on low dose Levimir, stopped due to fairly normal sugars, now can’t stand the site of food, early morning 2am sugars of 37 and 6pm sugars of 45. Anybody with this problem? Need help.
Yes, rapid weight loss can be due to diabetes, provided there are other symptoms of diabetes like increased thirst, increased perspiration, and increased appetite. Raised blood sugar level will confirm the diagnosis.
Loss of body weight occurs either due to the loss of fluid content of the body or due to loss of tissue mass.
Causes other than diabetes where there is loss of weight are;
1. Thyrotoxicosis
2. Malnutrition.
3. Tuberculosis.
4. Malignancies.
5. HIV infection,, AIDS.