Symptoms

High blood sugar

When you have type 2 diabetes, your blood sugar can rise slowly over hours or days. You may not notice that anything is wrong. Symptoms of high blood sugar include:

• Being very thirsty.
• Urinating a lot.
• Losing weight without trying.
• Having blurry vision.

It's important to know these symptoms so you can treat them before they get worse and you need medical attention. If your blood sugar stays higher than your target range and you don't drink enough liquids, you can get dehydrated. This can make you feel dizzy and weak and can lead to an emergency called a hyperosmolar state.

Low blood sugar

When your blood sugar is too low, it can also cause problems. And it can happen suddenly. Quickly treating low blood sugar can help you avoid passing out (losing consciousness). You can pass out when your blood sugar gets very low. Low blood sugar can also lead to a heart attack. Symptoms of low blood sugar include:

• Sweating.
• Shakiness.
• Weakness.
• Hunger.
• Confusion.

If you aren't able to tell when your blood sugar is too low, it's a good idea to test your blood sugar often. But you're not likely to get low blood sugar unless you take insulin or oral diabetes medicines.

Symptoms of complications

Talk with your doctor if you notice any of these signs:

• Numbness, tingling, burning pain, or swelling in your feet or hands. This could be a sign of diabetic neuropathy. For more information, see the topic Diabetic Neuropathy.
• Blurry or spotty vision or seeing flashes. This may be a sign of diabetic retinopathy. For more information, see the topic Diabetic Retinopathy.
• Cuts or sores that won't heal or that look infected. This could mean damage to blood vessels.
• Chest pain or shortness of breath. This may be a sign of heart disease or blood vessel problems (macrovascular disease).
• Other symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, such as:
  • Frequent bloating, belching, constipation, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, or belly pain after you eat (gastroparesis).
  • Heavy or reduced sweating.
  • Feeling weak or dizzy when you stand up quickly.
  • Not knowing when your bladder is full or having problems emptying it.
  • Erection problems or vaginal dryness.
  • Not being able to tell when your blood sugar is low (hypoglycemia unawareness).

You won't have any symptoms of kidney damage (diabetic nephropathy) until the problem is severe. Then you may notice swelling in your feet or legs or all over your body. Having regular tests to check for protein in your urine is the only way to find diabetic nephropathy before symptoms start.