Type 2 diabetes symptoms: Three signs when you sleep that can signal the condition

People with type 2 diabetes are unable to naturally control their blood glucose (sugar) levels. Left untreated, this condition could become dangerous. Here are the three warning signs at night.

The charity Diabetes UK confirmed that uncontrolled blood glucose can “affect your sleep”.

Too much glucose (sugar) circulating in the bloodstream is going to make falling asleep uncomfortable.

Do you find yourself feeling too warm and irritable when you’re trying to fall asleep?

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According to Diabetes UK, this could be a warning sign of type 2 diabetes – especially if you wake up needing to go to the toilet throughout the night.

What is type 2 diabetes?

Normally, the pancreas – a gland within the body – produces the hormone insulin.

If you have type 2 diabetes, either of the following is happening: the hormone insulin isn’t working, or the pancreas isn’t making enough of it.

Insulin is a vital hormone that enables the glucose (sugar) in the blood – that comes from the foods you eat – to enter the body’s cells.

So, when insulin isn’t working (or there isn’t enough), instead of being absorbed by the cell’s within the body, it builds up in the bloodstream.

The cells really need this glucose, because it’s their energy source to help them function properly.

This is why a key sign of diabetes is feeling fatigued – your body simply isn’t getting the energy released from food.

As glucose continues to build up in the bloodstream, other warning signs begin to surface.

For instance, you may be visiting the loo much more often. This is because of the following:

It’s the kidney’s responsibility to filter the blood. When there’s glucose floating in the blood, it’s seen as waste material.

The kidney then ensures the excess glucose is flushed out of the body via urine.

With all these excessive toilet trips, the body becomes dehydrated – and this type of dehydration can’t be satisfied by simply drinking a glass of water.

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Over time, untreated diabetes can affect your heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys.

The Mayo Clinic identifies risk factors that increase a person’s risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

Being overweight is the main risk factor for type 2 diabetes, but not all diabetics are overweight.

Other considerable risk factors include having a family history of the condition.

Increasing age is also a risk factor, especially after 45-years-old, when people may exercise less, lose muscle mass and put on weight.

Seemingly interlinked, the less active you are, the greater your risk of type 2 diabetes.

Physical activity uses up glucose as energy and makes the cells more sensitive to insulin.

If you’ve been diagnosed with prediabetes – when blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as diabetes – exercise is your best form of action.

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