What Is Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 2 Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose levels are above normal. Diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Therefore, it is important to visit urgent care if you have signs of diabetes.
As per the 2014 National Diabetes Statistics Report, 29.1 million people or 9.3% of the US population have type 2 diabetes.
Diagnosed: 21.0 million people
Undiagnosed: 8.1 million people (27.8% of people with diabetes are undiagnosed).
Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes
Three symptoms you can’t ignore:
1) Frequent and or excessive urination: When you have diabetes, excess sugar (glucose) builds up in your blood. The kidneys have to work really hard to filter and absorb all that extra glucose. During this time, the excess glucose gets excreted into the urine, soaking up fluids drawn from your tissues. This leads to abnormally high urine output. A persistent need to urinate, especially if you have to get up at night to use the bathroom is something that you need to take seriously.
2) Feeling more thirsty: Due to frequent urination, many people with type 2 diabetes experience dehydration. This causes extreme thirst. If you drink sugary beverages like soda or juice to quench this thirst, more sugar enters the body leading to more thirst.
3) Hunger pangs: When people suffer from diabetes, they feel more hungry than usual and tend to eat more. This happens because the body cannot regulate glucose that your cells use for energy. When the cells don’t get enough glucose, your body automatically looks for more sources of fuel, causing persistent hunger. In addition, eating more will not get rid of the feeling of hunger in people with diabetes, as this will just further elevate the blood sugar level.
Each one of these symptoms can have other causes as well. If you notice any of these symptoms, it is best to get your HbA1c level checked. Stop by any of our clinics to get your level checked. No appointment is necessary at our clinics. Wait times are quick at urgent care. You can call ahead at (917) 310-3371 and let us know you’re on the way or you can check in online.
Source: CDC
