Type 2 Diabetes symptom you should never ignore – and the clue is in your mouth

By | November 24, 2018

Diabetes affects around four million people in the UK with stats released recently showing it affects 7,000 under-25s in England .

The condition is caused by the pancreas not creating enough insulin, or your body not reacting to it.

It can be hard to know if you have diabetes, but there are symptoms to look out for.

Some symptoms include weight loss, severe tiredness and feeling hungrier than normal.

But one that you might not be as aware of is dry mouth, Diabetes.co.uk has advised.

The term xerostomia is used to describe a persistent lack of saliva in the mouth and polydipsia is used to describe excessive thirst.

Feeling excessively thirsty can be one of the signs of diabetes, the experts add.

How thirsty are we talking? It’s normal to feel thirstier than usual some times, especially at certain points in the day, but if this is persistent it can be a sig.

“Polydipsia is the term given to excessive thirst and is one of the initial symptoms of diabetes,” says Diabetes.co.uk.

“It is also usually accompanied by temporary or prolonged dryness of the mouth.”

It adds: “If you feel thirsty all the time or your thirst is stronger than usual and continues even after you drink, it can be a sign that not all is well inside your body.”

You may also pass more urine than usual.

Excessive thirst is one of the ‘Big 3’ signs of diabetes mellitus as its a sign often of increased glucose levels.

Nurse giving a patient a diabetes test

When do you seek help?

People with diabetes with access to blood glucose testing equipment may wish to test their blood sugar levels when they are thirsty to determine whether their blood sugar levels are going too high.

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What is seen as excessive thirst? Persistent thirstiness or unexplained thirst regardless of how much you drink.

If you don’t have diabetes it’s worth seeing a doctor if you have these symptoms anyway.

The NHS advice is to eat a healthy, balanced diet to help reduce symptoms of diabetes.

Regular exercise and taking regular blood tests are also a part of managing blood sugar levels.

Mirror – Health