9 early symptoms of diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that directly affects how our bodies produce and respond to insulin. The disease leads to an increase in blood sugar levels, but the first symptoms can be minor and invisible, so many people do not pay any attention to them.

We've put together a list of the most common early signs of diabetes to help you spot the disease early.

9 PHOTOS

1. Increased thirst and urination.

If left untreated, diabetes can not only reduce the quality of life but also shorten life expectancy, which is why it is important to diagnose the disease early. You can read about the consequences of diabetes at https://diabety-net.ru/complication/posledstviya-saharnogo-diabeta-u-muzhchin-i-zhenshhin-v-chem-opasnost/. Moreover, the consequences for men and women can be different. For now, let's talk about the first symptom. Increased thirst (polydipsia) and frequent trips to the toilet (polyuria) are the most common symptoms of diabetes. In diabetes, the kidneys don't absorb all the excess sugar. Instead, it ends up in your urine, absorbing water from your tissues. This makes you urinate more and leaves you feeling dehydrated. To get rid of the feeling of thirst, you start drinking more, which leads to even more frequent urination.

2. Increased hunger.

Excessive hunger (polyphagia) is also a symptom of diabetes. If your body doesn't make the right amount of insulin, it can't turn food into glucose, which your cells use for energy. And this leads to a feeling of hunger, which persists even after eating.

3. Fatigue.

Another symptom of diabetes is chronic fatigue. You feel it because your body does not have enough glucose to produce energy.

4. Blurred vision.

When blurred vision is not a sign of a more serious eye problem, it may be an early sign of diabetes.

5. Unexplained weight loss.

Unexplained weight loss means losing a lot of weight without the help of diet or exercise. Since your body cannot use glucose as an energy source, when you have diabetes, it starts burning fat and muscle mass, causing you to lose weight. Dehydration also contributes to sudden weight loss, as your body uses all available fluids to make urine.

6. Skin itching.

As mentioned above, when excess sugar enters your urine, it absorbs fluids from other tissues, including your skin (your largest organ). Dry skin can itch. Another cause of itchy skin is fungal infections, which are quite common in people with diabetes.

7. Slow healing.

Cuts and wounds that heal very slowly can often be a symptom of diabetes. High blood sugar levels not only increase inflammation in cuts and sores but also lead to poor blood circulation, making it difficult for damaged skin to heal. This is especially true for the feet, it is not uncommon for diabetic patients to develop foot ulcers that can lead to more serious problems.

8. Dark spots on the skin.

Acanthosis nigricans is a skin condition that appears as dark patches with a velvety texture. These spots usually appear in areas where the skin folds: on the neck, armpits, groin, elbows, under the knees, and on the fingers.

9. Numbness and tingling of hands or feet.

Numbness, tingling, or pain in the hands or feet (fingers or toes) is another common sign of diabetes. As mentioned above, high blood sugar leads to poor circulation, which in turn leads to nerve damage. The first to be affected are the arms and legs, which are the parts of the body furthest from the heart.