Type 2 diabetes often remains unremarkable at first, so that many people live with the disease without knowing it. While it may seem harmless, it means that your pancreas isn’t making enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels – the main type of sugar in the blood. Over time, consistently high blood sugar levels can harm the body.
A tell-tale sign of blood sugar damage is diarrhea – a condition characterized by looser or more frequent bowel movements than normal for you.
Why is this happening? Speaking to Express.co.uk, Dr. Angela Rai, GP of The London General Practice, discussed the mechanism underlying type 2 diabetes.
“Type 2 diabetes can cause nerve damage and lead to a condition called autonomic neuropathy,” she said.
“Autonomic neuropathy affects various organs and can affect blood pressure control, digestive system, bladder control, and sexual function.”
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She continued, “Dietary changes like restricting wheat products can lead to constipation, and diabetic medications can also affect the digestive system and cause diarrhea or constipation.”
Other warning signs are:
- Pee more than usual, especially at night
- Always thirsty
- Feel very tired
- Lose weight without trying
- Itchy around your penis or vagina, or you get repeated thrush
- Cuts or wounds take longer to heal
- Blurred vision.
How should one answer
See a family doctor if you have any of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes or are concerned that you are at higher risk for type 2 diabetes, advises the NHS.
“You will need a blood test which you may need to go to your local health center for if your family doctor cannot do it,” the health department explains.
“Exercise can help lower blood sugar levels and walking is a great way to do that,” explains Diabetes.co.uk.
It can make sense that more exercise might have a better effect on lowering blood sugar levels, but this is not always the case.
As Diabetes.co.uk notes, strenuous exercise can create a stress response that causes the body to increase blood sugar levels.
“This reaction varies from person to person,” added the health department.
Exercise can also lower high blood pressure – another marker of chronic illness.
