Many people living with type 2 diabetes do not even know that they have it!

Around one fourth of all Americans who are 65 or older suffer from type 2 diabetes, but unfortunately, approximately half of all people who have type 2 diabetes do not even know that they have it! No matter how old you are, the earlier you catch type 2 diabetes, the better your chances will be to prevent the complications associated with it. As a senior, there are even more complications associated with type 2 diabetes, so early detection becomes even more important. Here are a few of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes to watch out for:

#1. Frequent Urination

If you have diabetes, your body is not able to absorb glucose, so when your blood sugar is high, your body will try to dispel the excess glucose through urination. Without the ability to produce effective insulin, or insulin altogether, the kidneys will remove water from the blood to dilute the glucose, which leads to a full bladder.

#2. Fatigue

Glucose is converted into energy by your body, but your body needs insulin in order to use that glucose. When your body produces ineffective insulin or doesn't produce enough, it cannot use the glucose it needs to keep you energized.

#3. Increased Thirst

When you lose more liquids from more frequent urination, it will increase your thirst. These are just a few of the many signs that could indicate type 2 diabetes. Would you like to learn more? If so, please stay tuned for our Elk Horn long-term care facility's next blog.