Question: Diabetes runs in my family and I think this puts me at risk. Could you tell me what are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes?
Answer: Unfortunately, type 2 diabetes often has no signs or symptoms. Even if lab work indicates diabetes, a person may not feel any different from usual. If blood sugars are extremely high over a period of time, a person may start to feel frequent thirst, frequent hunger, lethargy, and may experience more frequent urination.
If you have a family history, you may be at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes. I would recommend regular checkups with your doctor and request that your doctor check your Hemoglobin A1C in addition to a fasting glucose/metabolic panel. The A1C may be more likely to show postprandial blood sugar spikes which are an earlier sign of the development of type 2 diabetes than an elevated fasting blood sugar.
Also try to live a healthy lifestyle including regular exercise, healthy food choices and smaller portions, and stress management techniques. Healthy lifestyle changes may reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 58%.
An imbalance in blood sugar can also lead to mood swings and feelings of depression, anger, frustration, etc.
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