Diabetes is a disease that can affect the whole body and cause various symptoms. Many common and unusual symptoms are due to high and uncontrolled blood sugar levels. Early recognition of symptoms can be key to successful treatment and disease management. Diabetes describes a group of health conditions that affect the way the body converts sugar into energy. The most common types of diabetes are type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Without proper care and management, diabetes can lead to many complications. It is therefore important for people to be aware of the common and unusual symptoms that may indicate diabetes.
This article discusses some unusual signs of diabetes, as well as the most common warning signs and when to contact your doctor.
5 unusual symptoms
Some possible unusual symptoms of diabetes may include:
1. Skin changes
Diabetes can affect many parts of the body, including the skin. When blood sugar levels get too high, they can appear on the skin. For example, diabetes can cause dark spots to appear on the skin, especially in skin folds, such as the back of the neck, armpits, and groin. This condition is known as acanthosis nigricans. Although the exact cause of this condition is unknown, there is strong evidence that it is linked to insulin resistance and occurs when a person has too much insulin in their blood. High blood sugar can also lead to other skin diseases, such as diabetic dermatopathy and xanthomatosis. In addition, high blood sugar can also lead to dry and itchy skin.
2. Poor wound healing
High blood sugar can cause wounds to heal slowly, weakly, or not to heal at all. High blood sugar can impair the function of white blood cells, which play an important role in the immune system. If they cannot function properly, the body is less able to heal wounds. High blood sugar can also affect circulation and lead to nerve damage. Poor circulation can slow healing because blood moves more slowly, which can make it more difficult for the body to deliver nutrients to the wounds. Because of nerve damage, a person may not notice the ulcer and not be able to treat it properly.
3. Vision changes
High blood sugar can also damage the eyes and affect a person’s vision. High blood sugar can damage, weaken, and bulge the small blood vessels in the eyes. These sensitive blood vessels can then leak blood and other fluids, which can lead to swelling that can distort vision. Over time, uncontrolled blood sugar levels can lead to serious eye problems, which can impair vision and lead to vision loss.
4. Bad breath
Many people associate breath odor with a recent meal or poor dental hygiene. However, it can also be a possible sign of diabetes, often type 1. The smell of fruit in your breath is usually a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis. This term refers to the body’s inability to obtain energy from glucose; Then it enters a state of ketosis and begins burning fats for nutrition. When the body is unable to effectively produce or use insulin, blood sugar levels rise. In fact, insulin allows the glucose in the blood to penetrate into the cells so that they can use it as energy. Without insulin, the body uses fat for energy, releasing acidic byproducts called ketones. Acetone is a type of ketone, a fruity-smelling substance commonly found in some nail polish removers. If a person breathes fruity flavour, this may indicate that they have high levels of ketones in their blood due to diabetes. When the body produces too many ketones too quickly, they can build up to dangerous levels in the body and cause serious complications.
5. Frequent infections
Another possible sign of diabetes is an increased risk of infection. This is because high blood sugar levels can weaken a person’s immune system and allow the infection to develop more quickly. For example, a person with diabetes may be more likely to have a urinary tract infection and a yeast infection.
Common Warning Signs
Diabetes can present with a whole range of possible symptoms – what one person experiences may differ from another. However, the most common symptoms of diabetes have been shown to be:
increased thirst
frequent urination
Tired
Unexplained weight loss
Also, others may mention the three pillars of diabetes as common warning signs. This term refers to:
Urination: Urinate frequently to help the body get rid of the extra glucose that the kidneys filter into the blood.
Polydipsia: Increased thirst to compensate for fluid loss from urination.
Polyphagia: increased appetite due to loss of glucose and fluid due to excessive urination.
In addition to the above, other signs of diabetes may include:
blurred vision
Tingling in the hands or feet
dry skin
Wounds that heal slowly
More frequent infection than usual
When do you call the doctor?
It is highly recommended that you contact a medical professional if you experience symptoms such as frequent urination, increased thirst and fatigue. Your doctor can do tests to measure your blood sugar, such as the A1C test, which can help diagnose diabetes.
It is also important to consider risk factors for diabetes, which can make a person more likely to develop this disease. Possible risk factors for different types of diabetes may include:
Type 1: Having a relative with type 1 diabetes.
Type 2: prediabetes, obesity, or a family history of type 2 diabetes.
Pregnancy: having gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy, having already given birth to a baby weighing more than 3 kg, or having PCOS (PCOS).
After you have been diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor will recommend regular check-ups every 3 to 6 months. A trusted source to help monitor a person’s health and ensure they are following their treatment plan.
Summary
Diabetes can affect the whole body and cause various symptoms, which can make it difficult to recognize the signs of the disease. It is important to be alert for the most common symptoms, such as increased thirst and frequent urination, but also for more common symptoms, such as bad breath and blurred vision. If you have any unusual symptoms that could indicate diabetes, it is recommended that you make an appointment with your doctor. A health care professional can evaluate symptoms and run tests to confirm or rule out the condition. Once diagnosed, a doctor can recommend the most appropriate treatment.
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