Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. With rising cases worldwide, early detection is crucial to preventing complications. Recognizing the warning signs can help you take timely steps to manage your health effectively.
Here are 10 common signs that could indicate the onset of diabetes — particularly type 2 diabetes, which often develops gradually:
1. Frequent Urination
Do you find yourself visiting the toilet more often than usual, especially at night? High blood sugar levels can cause your kidneys to work harder to remove the excess glucose, leading to frequent urination.
2. Excessive Thirst
Frequent urination causes your body to lose more fluids, which triggers intense thirst. If you're constantly reaching for water without any obvious reason, it's worth paying attention.
3. Unexplained Weight Loss
Losing weight without dieting or exercising? When your cells don't get enough glucose, your body begins to break down fat and muscle for energy — leading to sudden weight loss.
4. Extreme Hunger
Despite eating regularly, you might feel constantly hungry. This happens because your body isn’t efficiently using the glucose from your food, causing a persistent sense of hunger.
5. Fatigue and Weakness
When glucose can’t enter your cells properly, your energy levels drop. If you’re always feeling tired or weak, even after a full night's sleep, it may be a warning sign of diabetes.
6. Blurred Vision
High blood sugar levels can cause the lens of your eye to swell, leading to blurred or distorted vision. Ignoring this symptom could result in long-term eye complications.
7. Slow Healing of Wounds
Cuts, sores, or infections that take a long time to heal could indicate diabetes. Poor circulation and nerve damage (neuropathy) caused by high blood sugar delay the healing process.
8. Frequent Infections
Recurring infections — especially skin infections, gum disease, or urinary tract infections — can signal a weakened immune system due to elevated blood sugar.
9. Tingling or Numbness in Hands and Feet
This is often a symptom of diabetic neuropathy. Prolonged high blood sugar can damage nerves, especially in your extremities, causing tingling, burning, or loss of feeling.
10. Darkened Skin in Folds
Known as acanthosis nigricans, this condition results in dark, velvety patches of skin, often in the neck, armpits, or groin. It can be a strong indicator of insulin resistance.
What You Should Do
If you recognize any of these symptoms, it’s important not to ignore them. Early diagnosis and lifestyle changes can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes and its complications.
At Mascot Healthcare, we offer:
- Blood sugar testing
- Diabetes risk assessments
- Nutrition and lifestyle support
- Ongoing monitoring and care
🩺 Book a check-up today — your health is your best investment.
📍 Visit us or call our clinic for a diabetes screening appointment.