Early signs of diabetes that people often tend to miss

The condition known as diabetes affects how our body manages the conversion of food into energy. This condition causes a rise in blood sugar levels due to insufficient insulin. The hormone insulin is secreted by the pancreas and helps turn glucose into energy while reducing blood glucose levels. Type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and gestational diabetes are the many forms of the disease.

Diabetes cannot be cured, but it can be significantly controlled with medications, therapies, a balanced diet, and lifestyle changes. You must be aware of the early symptoms or signs of diabetes because if they are recognized and treated right away, they can prevent the condition from worsening. People sometimes ignore or are unaware of the early symptoms of diabetes. We'll assist you in identifying the early signs of diabetes, and the warning flags individuals frequently overlook in this stage.

• INCREASE IN APPETITE - The body's energy level drops because it isn't getting enough glucose. As a result of the decreased glucose, signals that make you hungry appear. Therefore, even if the person eats adequately, the body still lacks the energy it needs after eating, which causes the body to signal for more power and causes the person to feel hungry.

• BLURRY VISION - The eyes are one of the bodily organs that might be most negatively impacted when the blood sugar level rises and is over the threshold. High blood sugar levels harm the blood vessels in the eyes. If neglected, this condition is known as retinopathy and can result in blindness. Diabetes may also cause the eye lens to enlarge, which can cause vision problems. Your eye lens's shape may alter, and your vision may become blurry if your blood sugar levels go from low to normal quickly.

• ABNORMAL SWELLING OR NUMBNESS IN HANDS AND FEET - Diabetes can also impair blood flow, leading to edema or even numbness in the hands and feet for certain people. It is always advisable to examine your blood sugar levels if the numbness lasts for an extended period and does not go away. Swollen ankles and feet are frequently the results of too much fluid accumulating in bodily tissue, which is generally the result of poor blood circulation. The term for the swelling is edema.

• DIZZINESS AND DISORIENTATION - When a person's blood sugar level is dangerously low, hypoglycemia occurs, which can make them feel lightheaded. The person is likely to have trouble concentrating and will always be out of focus since their body cannot fully utilize the meal and glucose. Mood swings and this kind of circumstance are frequently confused.

• WEIGHT LOSS -It is wise to talk to your doctor about this circumstance if you weren't planning on losing weight but ended up doing so. When the body does not receive enough glucose for energy, it tries to compensate for its need for power in other ways, which ultimately impacts weight. No matter how much food you eat, you won't gain weight since your body can't use it.

• SLOW HEALING OF WOUNDS - The inability to heal wounds quickly is another sign of diabetes. Blood flow around the wound site is essential for wound healing. Diabetes-related blood vessel narrowing impairs wound healing because less oxygen can enter the wound and the tissues repair more slowly. Diabetes patients also have issues with immune system activation. Both the quantity and responsiveness of immune fighter cells sent to treat injuries are frequently diminished. Your risk of infection increases, and wound healing takes longer if your immune system isn't functioning correctly.

These are some warning indicators that you should be on the lookout for because they are frequently the ones that go unnoticed. But keep in mind that type 1 and type 2 diabetes can occasionally have the same symptoms or warning signals, so pay attention to some of these warning signs that both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can give you:

• PEEING MORE OFTEN AND BEING THIRSTIER - The typical individual typically needs to urinate four to seven times in 24 hours, but people with diabetes may urinate significantly more frequently. Why? Naturally, as glucose goes through your kidneys, your body reabsorbs it. However, when diabetes raises blood sugar levels, your kidneys might be unable to filter everything back into your body. The body produces more pee as a result, which requires fluids. As a result, you'll need to visit more frequently. You could urinate more as well. You may become quite thirsty as a result of your frequent urination. You'll urinate more if you consume more alcohol.

• DRY MOUTH - Dehydration is a risk for diabetic patients. Increased blood sugar levels: People with diabetes may experience high blood glucose levels. Hyperglycemia is the medical word for this condition, resulting in dry mouth.

• ITCHY SKIN - Diabetes is frequently the cause of localized irritation. A yeast infection, dry skin, or inadequate circulation are some of its potential causes. The lower portions of the legs may itch the most when bad circulation is to blame.

The signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes can be so subtle that you don't even notice them. Some people don't know they have it until they start having issues due to the disease's long-term harm. Particularly early on, the typical symptoms of Type 2 diabetes, such as frequent urination and increased thirst, are frequently mild. However, ignoring them could lead to later, more severe health issues. 

Your nerves, kidneys, and retina can all be harmed by even a slight blood sugar rise. The damage may worsen the longer you go without therapy and the higher your blood sugar levels are.

• YEAST INFECTIONS - Your blood sugar levels can soar to high levels if your diabetes is not effectively controlled. Particularly in the vaginal area, this rise in blood sugar might encourage yeast growth. In response, your body can have a yeast infection. Keeping your blood sugar levels stable may help lower your risk of getting sick. However, you can purchase medications to treat yeast infections, including Over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal creams, such as Lotrimin AF (clotrimazole), Monistat (miconazole), Vagistat-1 (tioconazole), or Femstat (butoconazole) or prescription oral antifungal medication, such as Diflucan (fluconazole).

• PAIN OR NUMBNESS - Your nerves are damaged by high blood sugar, so they may stop communicating with various body organs. Nerve injury can result in health issues ranging from slight numbness to discomfort, making it difficult to carry out daily tasks. People with diabetes who have nerve damage make up about half the population.

• DARK SKIN PATCHES - Due to an imbalance in melanin levels in one area of the body, discolored skin patches also frequently appear. Melanin is a chemical that gives the skin color and shields it from the sun. Skin discoloration can occur in a location where melanin is produced excessively there.

• FREQUENT INFECTIONS - Anyone can have bacterial, fungal, or yeast infections, but type 2 diabetics are more susceptible to them. When blood sugar levels are too high for the kidneys to filter appropriately, sugar appears in the urine. This can lead to both yeast infections and urinary tract infections. Gum and skin infections are also frequent.

• Bacterial infections - Although you can usually cure them at home, a doctor's prescription for an antibiotic may be necessary. Among people with diabetes, the following bacterial infections are typical:

• styes (in or near the eyelids)
• boils on the surface of the skin, or carbuncles deeper down
• infections of the hair follicles called folliculitis
• infections around the nails

• Fungal infections - Candida albicans, a fungus, most frequently infects people with diabetes. This yeast-like fungus brings on itchy red rashes surrounded by tiny blisters and scales. The warm, moist folds of skin where these diseases are most prevalent include:

• under the breasts
• around the groin
• in the vagina
• around the nails
• between fingers and toes

• FATIGUE - Although there is a study in 2014 that some patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes reported chronic fatigue. Type 2 diabetics are more prone to this condition. One of the distinguishing signs of diabetes is extreme weariness. Sometimes people refer to it as diabetes tiredness syndrome. Researchers Trusted sources are unsure of the precise cause. Numerous studies have been conducted on the relationship between weariness and diabetes, but none have definitively identified the cause. The most typical explanation for diabetes-related fatigue is insufficient glucose available for the body to use as fuel due to changing blood glucose levels. Researchers are also aware of how challenging it is to research the link between fatigue and diabetes. Fatigue can result from a variety of co-occurring disorders, as well as from lifestyle choices like:

• dehydration
• poor sleep quality
• lack of physical activity
• obesity
• deficient diet
• psychological issues
• hormonal imbalances

• FEELING VERY TIRED - Insulin is necessary for cells to absorb blood glucose. Glucose can accumulate in the blood if the cells do not drink enough of it. Glucose is required by cells to provide energy. When the cells do not receive enough glucose, fatigue, and weakness may occur.

You should be aware of several unusual symptoms of diabetes. Not everyone experiences the same early diabetic symptoms. While some people suffer the condition's typical symptoms, others only sometimes exhibit them. Here are some of it the unusual symptoms that diabetes can cause:

• DARKER SKIN ON THE NECK - There may be numerous dark spots, or they may just be visible in the skin's wrinkles. You might also notice that the skin on your neck is silky or thicker. Acanthosis nigricans is the name for this condition (AN). Additionally, it can occasionally be found on the armpits and groin. Type 2 diabetes and those with darker complexions are both risk factors for this illness. It happens when skin cells reproduce more quickly than usual due to high amounts of insulin in the bloodstream. BBM

• FRUITY SMELLING BREATH - Another less well-known sign of diabetes, or diabetic ketoacidosis, is fruity-smelling breath. Once more, when your body cannot use insulin to produce energy, it breaks down your fat cells. Ketones, an acid produced by this mechanism, are the result. Ketones in excess usually pass out of the body through urine. However, the development of the body is beginning to break down fat for energy is the breath that smells like fruit, acetone, or nail polish. You should see a doctor immediately if you think you may have diabetic ketoacidosis. It is a serious diabetes complication.

• PAIN IN YOUR LIMBS - You may have issues like discomfort or cramps when elevated sugar levels damage your nerves (diabetic neuropathy). Your limbs may feel tingly, hot, or numb, in addition to experiencing discomfort in your legs or feet.

• SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION - Another potential sign of diabetes is erectile dysfunction. Males with type 2 diabetes are frequently affected by this, making it challenging to erect. High blood sugar affects nerves and the arteries that supply the penis with blood, leading to sexual dysfunction. Women who experience sexual dysfunction may experience low arousal and inadequate lubrication. However, women's diabetes-related sexual difficulties have received less thorough research than men's.

WHEN DO I SEE A DOCTOR? 

Diabetes cannot be cured but can be controlled with a treatment strategy. But if unattended, it may result in issues like:

• irreversible nerve damage
• blindness
• skin complications
• kidney disease
• amputation
• stroke
• death

Consult your doctor if you haven't felt like yourself lately or if you have any diabetes symptoms. Your doctor can diagnose diabetes with a fasting blood sugar test, an A1C test measuring your blood glucose over time, and a random blood sugar test. Once a condition is identified, it may be treated with insulin, oral medicines, physical activity, and dietary changes. You must be conscious of the changes in your body, and no change should go unnoticed. Early diabetes symptoms might be difficult to identify, but if you experience any unusual symptoms that don't go away or worsen, schedule a visit with your doctor.