Signs of diabetes

Diabetes, a chronic condition affecting the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels, can manifest through various signs and symptoms. Here are some common indicators of diabetes:

1. Frequent Urination (Polyuria): Increased urination, especially at night, is often one of the earliest signs of diabetes. This occurs because the kidneys work overtime to filter and absorb excess sugar in the blood.
2. Increased Thirst (Polydipsia): Excessive thirst is closely linked to frequent urination. When you urinate more frequently, your body loses more water, leading to dehydration and increased thirst.
3. Extreme Hunger (Polyphagia): Despite eating regularly, people with diabetes may experience persistent hunger due to the body’s inability to properly utilize glucose for energy.
4. Unexplained Weight Loss: In type 1 diabetes, unexplained weight loss can occur despite increased appetite. This is because the body starts breaking down muscle and fat for energy when it can’t use glucose properly.
5. Fatigue: Feelings of tiredness and lethargy are common in diabetes, particularly when cells don’t receive enough glucose for energy production.
6. Blurred Vision: High blood sugar levels can cause fluid to be pulled from the lenses of the eyes, leading to blurred vision. This symptom often resolves once blood sugar levels are controlled.
7. Slow Healing of Wounds: Diabetes can impair the body’s ability to heal wounds, leading to slow-healing cuts and bruises, as well as frequent infections.
8. Frequent Infections: High blood sugar levels weaken the immune system, making people with diabetes more susceptible to infections, particularly in the urinary tract, skin, and gums.
9. Tingling or Numbness: Elevated blood sugar levels can damage nerves, leading to tingling, numbness, or pain, especially in the hands and feet (diabetic neuropathy).
10. Skin Changes: Diabetes can cause skin problems such as dryness, itching, dark patches (acanthosis nigricans), and skin infections.
11. Yeast Infections: Women with diabetes may experience more frequent yeast infections due to elevated sugar levels in vaginal secretions.
12. Increased Hunger but Weight Loss (Type 2 Diabetes): Some people with type 2 diabetes may experience increased hunger along with weight loss due to insulin resistance and inefficient glucose uptake by cells.
13. Irritability: Fluctuating blood sugar levels can affect mood and lead to irritability or mood swings.
14. Dry Mouth: High blood sugar levels can cause dry mouth, which increases the risk of dental problems such as cavities and gum disease.
15. Darkened Skin (Type 2 Diabetes): Some individuals with type 2 diabetes may develop a condition called acanthosis nigricans, characterized by dark, velvety patches of skin, often in skin folds like the neck, armpits, and groin.