Did you know diabetes is one of the escalating global health crises of this century with India having the second-highest number of diabetics in the world?
Report says, in 2021, more than 74 million Indians were diagnosed with diabetes, and the number is expected to surpass 124 million by 2045.
Diabetes is a chronic, progressive disorder where your body either doesn’t produce the sugar-regulating hormone insulin (type 1) or doesn’t utilize insulin properly (type 2). Both of these conditions result in an excess of sugar (glucose) in your blood.
With millions of individuals suffering from this chronic condition globally, you might expect most to be aware of the early signs of diabetes. Unfortunately, that is not the case!
High blood sugar can cause gradual, subtle symptoms that can sneak up and take you by surprise. While some might experience the tell-tale signs of the condition others may not even know they have it until diagnosed by a doctor.
Recognizing early signs of diabetes can make a world of difference and help you maintain healthy blood sugar levels while preventing complications like stroke and heart failure.
Read more : Benefits of Giloy for Diabetes Patients
Here are some common early signs of diabetes you shouldn’t ignore.
1. Dark patches on the neck
One possible early sign of diabetes is the development of dark, velvety patches on your skin, especially in the folds of your neck. These patches can also appear on the armpits or groin areas. The condition is known as acanthosis nigricans which occurs due to excess insulin in your blood or insulin resistance, a hallmark of type 2 diabetes.
In type 2 diabetes, your body cells become resistant to insulin because of which there is a rise in blood sugar. To keep up with the increasing sugar levels, your pancreas, an organ in our abdominal cavity, produces more insulin. High levels of insulin in the blood cause skin cells like melanin (the pigment that gives skin its colour) to multiply more rapidly than usual. This causes darker patches of skin.
2. Persistent fatigue and weakness
Your body needs glucose to produce energy. The hormone insulin is responsible for carrying glucose into every body cell. In diabetes, the glucose can’t get into the cells due to a lack of insulin or insulin resistance and it remains in your blood circulation. So, even though there is plenty of glucose in your blood, the cells are deprived of enough fuel for energy.
This is why you constantly feel tired despite getting enough rest and sleep. Persistent fatigue and sluggishness make it difficult to maintain an active lifestyle and you end up feeling lethargic all day.
3. Unexplained weight loss
A sudden drop in overall body weight without trying or any change in diet could be another early sign of diabetes. When blood glucose levels are very high, your kidneys try to remove them by excreting them in the urine. This process requires a lot of water and causes frequent urination as well as loss of calories. Your body also starts burning muscles and fat stores to provide energy which ultimately leads to weight loss.
4. Slow healing of wounds
If your cuts, scrapes, and other wounds are taking longer to heal, this could be another early sign of diabetes. Higher levels of sugar in your blood decrease the elasticity of blood vessels and cause them to narrow. This impairs blood circulation resulting in a reduced supply of necessary nutrients and oxygen to cuts and wounds for proper healing.
5. Recurrent infections
As high blood sugar impairs your body’s natural wound-healing ability, wounds can take months to heal and may become severe and develop infections if left untreated. Diabetes also affects your immune system function, reducing the ability of white blood cells to reach the site of infection, stay in the infected area, and kill microorganisms. This further increases your risk for infection.
Excess blood sugar also serves as food for bacteria and yeast. Coupled with a warm, moist environment, this helps them thrive. Therefore diabetics, especially women, are prone to urinary tract and yeast infections.
Some people might also start to notice inflamed gums. It is a serious mouth problem that can lead to tooth loss if the disease advances and is left untreated.
6. Frequent urination
One of the most common early signs of diabetes is frequent peeing, both during the day and at night. When there’s too much sugar in your blood, as is the case with diabetes, your kidneys work harder to remove it, leading to increased urine production. This process continues even while you’re sleeping.
The condition is called polyuria and is a common symptom of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
7. Excessive thirst
If you are constantly drinking water and still feeling dehydrated, it could be a sign of diabetes. This occurs because your kidneys work overtime to flush out excess sugar from your system. As a result, you feel thirsty more often.
Excessive thirst is referred to as polydipsia. It is a common symptom of diabetes, especially when blood sugar levels are poorly controlled.
8. Constant hunger
Glucose is the primary energy source for your body cells. This comes from the food you eat. In diabetes, the sugar stays in your blood and does not reach the cells. As a result, your cells don’t get the energy they need and send signals to your brain that you’re hungry. This, in turn, triggers persistent hunger pangs, even if you’ve just eaten.
The feeling of extreme, insatiable hunger is known as Polyphagia (hyperphagia).
9. Blurred vision
Experiencing sudden changes in your vision may also be a warning sign that your blood sugars are too high or not in the target range. Your eye contains a clear fluid that helps maintain the shape of your eye and provides nutrients to the surrounding tissues, including the lens.
Diabetes can cause fluid to leak into the lens of your eye and make them swell or change shape. These changes affect your eye’s ability to focus on objects, so things start to look fuzzy. But, the good news is once your blood sugar stabilizes, vision goes back to normal after a few weeks.
10. Dry, itchy skin
When there is too much sugar in your blood, your body pulls fluid from its cells to produce enough urine and remove the excess sugar. This can make your skin feel dry and cause itching, especially in your lower legs.
Diabetes also affects the nerves that control the sensation and moisture levels in your skin causing decreased sweat production and dry skin.
The Take Home Message
Diabetes is a chronic disease, and its consequences do not become obvious until it has progressed significantly. The longer your blood sugar remains high without treatment, the more damage it can cause.
Therefore, if you are experiencing any signs of diabetes that do not improve or worsen over time, consult your doctor. These signs, especially when occurring together or persistently, may indicate diabetes or some other underlying health problem. A simple blood test can confirm or rule out the disorder and help you prevent its complications. Stay Healthy and Stay Happy!
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