4 Symptoms: How to Know You May Have Type 2 Diabetes

Health and wellness are two of the most combined talked about subjects in society today. Everywhere you look there are tons of different recipes, diets, workout plans, and techniques that are geared towards helping others achieve their ultimate diet and fitness goals. On the other hand, some of you have things happening to your body that you may not be able to control or pinpoint. Type 2 Diabetes tends to sneak up and without you being cognizant of your habits and history, can take you for a very bumpy ride. Take the time to read until the end and you will learn four symptoms that I endured on my path to being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.

During high school and a few years after graduation, I was an athlete. I played basketball, golf and dabbled in the gridiron for a year or two. Working out was within my parameters for remaining in shape for the seasons. However, the diet I was following was less than desired. You see, the notion of working out and playing sports allowed my mind to think if I was active, that was all that mattered. Please do not let your mind play this trick on you. What you put into your body as fuel is more important than going through the physical motions. Trust me.

Fast forward and into my late 20’s and early 30’s things started to change. I learned of the medical history of my family bloodline from both my mother's and father’s sides. Do you think that made a change in my mindset? No. Now I have become less active and more into going out for beers with the guys and absolutely being at every wing night. The untouchable mindset of, ‘That won’t happen to me,” was in full force. Big mistake. What followed was a series of symptoms that could have been prevented.

Symptom 1: Unquenchable Thirst

No matter what I drank and how often I drank it, there was no quenching my thirst. Going out to dinner was getting to be embarrassing because I would start with the diet soda and then have three glasses of water afterward. I literally was like the water buffalo at the table. If you find yourself in the same situation where you are always reaching for the water bottle, soda, Gatorade, etc. this can be a sign of being on the path to Type 2 Diabetes.

Symptom 2: Very Frequent Urination

Okay, I know you are going to think that with the above symptom obviously comes the urge to expel all you are drinking. There is a differentiating factor though. Even if you are not drinking ungodly amounts of fluid during any part of the day to quench your thirst, the urge to have to urinate is still there. No matter what was going on throughout my day I always found myself making that pit stop to the restroom more frequently than ever before.

Symptom 3: Weight Loss

At my heaviest in my life, I was 240 pounds and standing at a short and stout five feet six inches. I was carrying a lot of weight due to the fact I did not care about my diet. Bringing back the “It won’t happen to my mindset.” Suddenly over the course of two to three months, my clothes started to get big. I was starting to lose the belly and people were noticing. The problem is there were no workouts involved and I was still eating like garbage. This set off a signal to not only myself but my wife as well. If you find yourself experiencing weight loss and you do not know how or why it may be happening, this is a big indicator for Type 2 Diabetes symptoms.

Symptom 4: Frequent Naps

Finally, after all, three of the other symptoms reared their ugly head, I found that I needed more naps than ever. Towards the end of the workday, my eyes were heavy. Coming home and taking a nap was a priority. Energy levels dropped. Motivation levels to get the simplest tasks done around the house had decreased. No matter how much I felt I slept or napped there was no regaining the competitive edge to take on the day. If this seems to be a routine, you are experiencing then a trip to the doctor to check your A1C levels is a must.

Conclusion

All the symptoms discussed above are personal accounts of my journey to being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. They may come fast and hard or may have the trickle-down effect over time. If you are feeling off in any way and have any of these mishaps going on, then it is evident something is off. Consult your doctor and catch it early. Getting on the corrective path and managing this disease is important. Diet and exercise and a bit of a lifestyle change can do wonders for your symptoms and condition. As always, I recommend consulting your primary physician and laying the groundwork there.