Detecting Initial Symptoms of Diabetes

Diabetes is on the rise in the US. From 2001 and 2020, among US adults 18 and older, the increase was significant.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports: [1]

• 37.3 million people have diabetes, which represents 11.3% of the US population.
• 28.7 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes.
• 8.5 million people who have diabetes have not been diagnosed and do not know they have it.

Watch for signs of diabetes

There are signs and patterns suggesting that you may have diabetes.  Among those signs that should be discussed with a health care professional are:

Frequent urination and thirst: Because of excess glucose levels, the kidneys are not able to reabsorb all the glucose and return it to the bloodstream. As a result, the excess glucose exits the body through urine where its presence draws additional water from the blood. This results in increased thirst. [2]

Fatigue: Fatigue is one of the major symptoms of diabetes. High blood glucose impairs your body’s ability to use glucose for energy. Dehydration from excessive urination also can cause fatigue. [3]

Feeling very hungry—even though you are eating: You lose calories through frequent urination. Also, diabetes may keep the glucose from your food reaching your cells, which leads to constant feelings of hunger. [4]

Blurry vision: Studies report that 5 percent of people with prediabetes have diabetic retinopathy, which happens because elevated blood sugars can damage blood vessels in the retina.[5]

Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands/feet: The National Institute of Health (NIH) National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK) estimates about one-third to one-half of people with diabetes have peripheral neuropathy due to high blood glucose or blood sugar.[6] That’s because high blood glucose or blood sugar and high levels of fats in the blood from diabetes can damage nerves and the small blood vessels that nourish them, leading to peripheral neuropathy.

Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal: Poor circulation is common among those with diabetes. Poor circulation makes it hard for blood – needed for skin repair – to reach areas of the body affected by sores or wounds.[7] Slow-healing cuts and wounds can be especially troublesome if they affect the feet. If not properly treated, foot wounds can lead to more severe complications, which can result in amputation.

Weight loss: While weight loss of a few pounds is not a cause for concern, unexplained weight loss of 10 pounds or more may mean something is wrong. Such dramatic weight loss could be an early sign of diabetes. When you do not get glucose in your cells, your body thinks it is starving and finds a way to compensate. It creates energy by burning fat and muscle at a rapid pace, causing unexplained weight loss, especially with type 1 diabetes.[8]

If you have any of these signs and symptoms, check with your health care provider. Simple blood tests can diagnose diabetes.

[1] “By the Numbers; Diabetes in America,” CDC, Accessed November 27, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/health-equity/diabetes-by-the-numbers.html

[2] “Excessive thirst? It may be a sign of prediabetes,” bfhc research, June 14, 2018. https://bfhcresearch.com/common-symptoms-prediabetes/

[3] “Diabetes symptoms: When diabetes symptoms are a concern,” Mayo Clinic, Accessed November 27, 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-symptoms/art-20044248

[4] Ibid

[5] Doherty, Colleen, “Symptoms of Prediabetes,” verywell health, Accessed November 27, 2022. https://www.verywellhealth.com/prediabetes-symptoms-6361970#toc-possible-symptoms

[6] “Diabetic Neuropathy,” NDDK, Accessed November 27, 2022. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/nerve-damage-diabetic-neuropathies

[7] “Slow Healing of Cuts and Wounds,” Diabetes.co.uk, June 10, 2022. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/symptoms/slow-healing-of-wounds.html

[8] “What You Should Know about Unexplained Weight Loss and Diabetes,” Cleveland Clinic, Accessed November 26, 2022. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-you-should-know-about-unexplained-weight-loss-and-diabetes/