What are 15 Early Signs of Diabetes for Timely Diagnosis?

Diabetes is one of the leading medical conditions that affects not just adults but children as well. The two major diabetes types are type 1 and 2. High blood sugar levels arising out of this health issue can damage tissues, organs, nerves, and blood vessels.Understanding the indications of if you have diabetes or not can help you take precaution in time and prevent the disorder from taking place. Since diabetes does not have a permanent cure, it is always wise to take preventive steps and keep a note about the possible diabetes symptoms.Early Signs of Diabetes – What You Should KnowHere are the early warning indications of diabetes, which can help you seek timely medical intervention to manage health:1. Increased ThirstIf blood sugar levels are high, you may feel thirsty often. This is because the body tries to flush the extra glucose by pulling water from organs and muscles. This makes you feel thirsty and drink more water.2. Frequent UrinationIf you urinate often or have seen an increase in urine volume, accompanied by a feeling of thirst, it can indicate high sugar levels in blood. The body wants to get rid of the excess glucose, overworking your kidneys and bladder in the process.3. Blurry Vision and Eyesight IssuesIf the blood carries additional glucose than required, the eye lenses may swell, leading to blurred vision. However, if you manage diabetes on time, the vision issues can reduce and the blurriness may also go away.4. Dryness of Mouth and SkinAs the body is using more water to remove accumulated glucose, it can lead to skin and mouth dryness. Your skin and mouth may feel itchy and dry no matter how much water you drink.5. Feeling Tired OftenIf your body lacks in transforming food to energy, you may feel loss of energy and tired often. Along with tiredness, you may also feel burned out, stressed, and frustrated – known as diabetes distress.6. Unexpected Weight ChangesEither you may start losing weight drastically or put on weight soon, even if your appetite increases or decreases. People with type 1 diabetes are more susceptible to weight changes compared to those with type 2 diabetes.7. Skin DiscolorationHigh blood sugar is responsible for skin rashes and changes. One of such conditions are Acanthosis nigricans, wherein the skin develops a velvety texture with darkness usually at the beck, back, forehead, or armpits. Another skin condition is diabetic dermopathy, where you may develop flat reddish-brown patches on the shins. This can affect both legs.8. Feeling Chilly and ColdIf your feet and hands feel unusually cold or if you feel an increase in body temperature with chilliness, it may happen from metabolic changes and poor circulation – often caused by diabetes.9. Appetite ChangesDue to insulin sensitivity issues, your appetite may change. Insulin allows the food to turn into energy. If the body is unable to produce enough insulin or the insulin is not working as expected, you may lack the energy to go about the day. Thus, you may like to eat more and experience increased hunger to fulfil energy needs.10. Numbness or Tingling in Feet or HandsDue to nerve damage from glucose increase in blood, you may experience diabetic neuropathy. This causes numbness and tingling sensation on hands and feet. While these symptoms may take some time to develop, it is worthy to keep an eye for these signs, especially if diagnosis for diabetes is delayed.11. HeadachesIf you experience headaches often, it may be a sign of diabetes. Diabetic headaches mean the head pain happens frequently due to damage to nerves in the head from diabetic neuropathy.12. Reduced LibidoIf you feel disinterest in sexual activities over time, it can happen from blood vessel and nerve damage due to elevated glucose levels. This can affect men and women both. Women may experience reduced sensitivity in sexual organs, while men may encounter erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.13. Nausea, Fruity Smelling Breath, or Stomach PainIf diabetes is not controlled, it can result in diabetic ketoacidosis. Here, nausea and abdominal pain episodes may increase as well as the breath may carry a fruity smell. These symptoms are more advanced in people with type 1 diabetes.14. Slow Healing InfectionsDue to compromised immunity from high glucose levels, you may be vulnerable to infections. Moreover, these infections do not go away soon after treatment, but recovery may take more time. The risk of cellulitis and yeast infections increases as well.15. Mood SwingsIf you have diabetes, it can impact mood and mental health. As irregular blood sugar in blood can affect energy levels and brain function, you may encounter mood swings and irritability. You may find it hard to focus and concentrate.Conclusion: Importance of Detecting Diabetes EarlyAs diabetes advances, it can cause several health issues and affect organs. Thus, knowing the early diabetes signs can help you seek diabetes detection and treatment on time. Managing diabetes and keeping a regular check on the blood sugar levels can allow you to live an improved life, and reduce the risk of associated medical problems.