Symptoms - Diabetes Type II, Hyperglycaemia, Hypoglycaemia, Ketoacidosis (with advice) ... and other complications

Diabetes Type 2 Symptoms:

• Increased thirst
• Increased hunger (especially after eating)
• Dry mouth
• Frequent urination
• Unexplained weight loss (even though you are eating and feel hungry)
• Fatigue (weak, tired feeling)
• Blurred vision
• Headaches
• Loss of consciousness (rare)
• Slow-healing sores or cuts
• Itching of the skin (usually around the vaginal or groin area)
• Frequent yeast infections
• Recent weight gain
• Velvety dark skin changes of the neck, armpit, and groin, called acanthosis nigricans
• Numbness and tingling of the hands and feet
• Decreased vision
• Impotency
• Feeling bloated after eating

Treat - get tested by your doctor

Symptoms of Ketoacidosis:

• shortness of breath
• nausea
• vomiting
• dry mouth

Treat - phone doctor immediately

Symptoms of Hyperglycaemia:

• urinate often
• drowsy
• nausea
• very hungry
• very thirsty
• blurred vision
• irritable
• very tired

Treat - exercise, control blood sugar levels

Symptoms of Hypoglycaemia

• shaking
• fast heartbeat (that you can hear)
• sweating
• anxiety
• dizzy
• very hungry
• weak
• tired
• irritable
• headache
• pale skin
• moodiness
• clumsy/jerky movements
• confusion
• tingling around mouth
• shaky/trembling on inside
• cold/clammy/sweaty
• blurred vision
• aggressive
• tearful
• slurring

Treat - drink half cup regular (not diet) Coke or eat glucose tablets.  If these are not available, try Jelly Babies, fruit juice or hard candies.  (Chocolate is lower in GI therefore is not ideal because it releases its sugars in your body too slowly.)

If you feel better, then eat one of the following:  toast, fruit, scone, cereal bar

If you don't feel better, then drink another half cup regular (not diet) Coke or eat glucose tablets.  If these are not available, try Jelly Babies, fruit juice or hard candies. 

Monitor blood sugar levels and do not drive if below 5mmol/L

If you are semi-conscious, inform people that they can apply jam, honey, treacle into side of mouth, then rub cheek gently from outside, so that it is absorbed (you don't need to swallow it for it to work).

Causes for hypo's can be:  missed meal, late in eating, ate too little/less than usual, were more active than usual, being in extreme temperatures (too hot or too cold), alcohol.

To avoid hypo's:

before exercise eat porridge, cereal or multi-grain bread
after exercise eat fruit or a couple of biscuits

ALWAYS CARRY GLUCOSE TABLETS WITH YOU!

Other complications can be found here.

Cardiovascular disease
Retinopathy
Neuropathy
Nephropathy
HHS

Other associated conditions can be found here.