What Are 10 Warning Signs of Diabetes?
Maybe you’re thirstier than usual. But you’ve been working out a lot, so you attribute that thirst to needing to increase your water intake. Naturally, if you’re drinking more water, you’ll be going to the bathroom more often.
You’re also feeling tired and a bit weak. But you’ve been “burning the candle at both ends” between work, family and social responsibilities.
However, in actuality, you just let three warning signs of diabetes slip under your radar.
Millions of Americans may have diabetes and yet 8.7 million of them don’t even realize it. One reason is they may not know what are the 10 warning signs of diabetes.
“We see a lot of patients who don’t realize their blood sugar is too high until they come in for an annual physical. Because diabetes can lead to long-term problems, it’s vital to start treatment right away. By working with us, you can still lead a healthy life and minimize diabetes impact on your daily life.”
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the 10 warning signs of diabetes that you may overlook. If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, our internal medicine physicians in Raleigh are experts at helping you manage this disease. Just contact us to schedule an appointment today.
What Are 10 Warning Signs of Diabetes?
1. Excessive Thirst
We touched on this earlier. Sometimes, when your body can’t process extra sugar, it leaves the body through the urine—taking other body fluids with it. The result is dehydration, which leads to increased thirst. Drinking more water causes you to urinate more often—and you can see how this leads to a perpetual cycle.
2. Frequent Urination
If you find you’re going to the bathroom far more often than usual, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with us so we can check your fasting blood sugar.
3. Extreme Hunger
Do you find that you’re still hungry even after eating? If the feeling of hunger does not subside, it can be a warning sign of diabetes.
4. Unintentional Weight Loss
Many with Type 2 diabetes experience weight loss when they are not trying to lose weight—despite eating more. When your body can’t use sugar for energy, it starts burning fat, resulting in lower weight.
5. Fatigue
Sugar is a source of energy for your body. When it’s not being processed (and is leaving your body in your urine) then you’ll feel more tired and lack energy to participate in your regular activities.
6. Mood Changes
Sure, everyone has a bad day now and then, but excessive (and continued) irritability or mood swings should be considered as a possible sign of diabetes. High blood sugar can even influence your mood.
7. Blurred Vision
What are 10 warning signs of diabetes? Blurred vision is a serious symptom. If diabetes is not treated, and blood sugars remain too high, it can result in diabetic retinopathy.
High glucose levels affect/damage the small, delicate blood vessels in your eyes leading to diabetic retinopathy. In certain cases, this condition can even lead to blindness.
8. Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy is a condition where high blood sugar damages nerves. The result is pain, tingling and numbness in the hands and feet.
9. Slow-Healing Wounds
Many with diabetes often struggle with non-healing wounds in addition to frequent infections and sores. In extreme cases, these wounds can progress to the point where you need an amputation.
10. Darkened Skin
This condition, called acanthosis nigricans, is characterized by dark patches that form in creases and folds in the body. These patches have a velvety appearance and are often found on the neck and in the armpits.
How Does Diabetes Feel When It Starts?
At first, you may feel fine. That’s why many of these signs are very subtle, and you may not even pick up on them in the beginning.
However, you can also experience feelings of:
What Are the Worst Symptoms of Diabetes?
“Worst” is a relative term, and some people may find certain symptoms more challenging than others. However, in our practice, patients have expressed that some of the worst aspects of diabetes are:
If diabetes is not controlled, it can lead to serious complications such as ketoacidosis.
For Help With Diabetes Diagnosis and Management, Raleigh Medical Group Is Here to Serve You
The statistics surrounding Type 2 diabetes are staggering. About 1 in every 10 people have the condition, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control.
Timely diagnosis and management are vital to minimize the many health complications that can result.
If you’ve wondered specifically what 10 warning signs of diabetes are, and you discover you have some that we’ve listed here, do not hesitate. Contact us for an appointment today.
