24x7 Emergency & Critical CareRachanapalli, Anantapur

Hormones & Metabolism

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition in which the body cannot use insulin effectively, so blood sugar stays high. It damages the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels quietly over years, which is why control matters even when a person feels perfectly well.

Symptoms

Not everyone gets every symptom, and the pattern can differ in older people, in people with diabetes and in children. These are the ones most often reported.

  • Passing urine frequently, including at night
  • Excessive thirst and dry mouth
  • Increased hunger with unexplained weight loss
  • Tiredness and reduced concentration
  • Slow-healing wounds and repeated skin or urinary infections
  • Tingling or numbness of the feet
  • Blurring of vision

When to see a doctor

Do not wait these out

If any of the following applies, arrange to be seen the same day. For anything sudden or severe, call 9281862028 or come straight to the emergency department at SIMS — it is open 24 hours and does not need an appointment.

  • Blood sugar very high with vomiting, drowsiness or rapid breathing — attend the emergency department
  • Sweating, trembling, confusion or unconsciousness from low sugar
  • Any foot wound, blister, colour change or foul discharge in a diabetic patient
  • Sudden vision change, chest discomfort or breathlessness
  • Anyone over 30 with a family history, excess weight or high blood pressure should be screened even without symptoms

Tests that may be advised

Your consultant will order only the investigations that change the plan. Most of the following are available on the SIMS campus, so results usually come back the same visit.

  • Fasting and post-meal blood sugar
  • HbA1c to assess control over the preceding months
  • Kidney function and urine albumin
  • Lipid profile and blood pressure
  • Annual dilated eye examination for retinopathy
  • Annual foot examination with monofilament testing

How it is treated

Treatment is decided case by case — by how advanced the problem is, what else you are being treated for, and what you can realistically sustain. Broadly, it involves the following.

  • Diet built around portion control, whole grains, vegetables and pulses rather than complete restriction
  • At least 30 minutes of walking or equivalent activity on most days
  • Regular medication, and insulin when tablets are no longer sufficient
  • Self-monitoring and a clear plan for sick days and fasting periods
  • Control of blood pressure and cholesterol, which reduces complications as much as sugar control does
  • Structured review every three to six months rather than only when unwell
This page is general information, not a diagnosis

Type 2 Diabetes can look like several other conditions, and the reverse is equally true. Nothing here can replace an examination, your test results and the judgement of the doctor treating you — and no medicine mentioned by name to a friend or relative should be started on the strength of this page. If you recognise yourself in it, book a consultation with the General Medicine department. If a symptom is sudden or severe, call 9281862028.

Worried it might be type 2 diabetes?

A consultation settles the question far faster than more reading. Tell us your symptoms and we will route you to the department that treats it.