Diabetes is a serious illness that is becoming increasingly common with each passing year. According to the CDC, about 1.5 million people in the United States are diagnosed with diabetes on an annual basis. Having high blood sugar can significantly increase the risk of stroke, heart failure, and many other diseases. By knowing the early signs, you can take the right measures to prevent the disease before it impacts your overall health. Let’s have a look at some common warning signs of diabetes.
Frequent urination
This is one of the key indicators of diabetes. When your blood sugar is high, your kidneys function overtime to expel the excess sugar out of your body. As a result, you will have a frequent urge to urinate. It can arise even if you haven’t drank enough water. In fact, a warning sign of diabetes is the need to urinate, which is urgent enough to wake you from a deep sleep.
Increased Thirst And Dry Mouth
One of the consequences of frequent urination is that more fluid is expelled from your body, resulting in excessive thirst and dryness. It is normal to feel thirsty during hot weather, but if it is combined with the urge to urinate frequently, then it can be considered an indication of diabetes. Your mouth and skin will also feel extra dry because of insufficient hydration.
Blurred Vision
If your blood sugar is persistently high, it can damage the small blood vessels of the eyes. As a result, you may experience blurry vision or dark spots in your vision. If left undiagnosed, this issue may worsen and lead to partial or complete blindness.
Unexplained Weight loss
When the blood sugar level is high, your body attempts to get rid of excess sugar in order to maintain functional balance. Loss of glucose depletes the energy sources, and your body starts burning fat and muscle tissues. This results in unexplained weight loss. It is considered significant if you have lost around 5% of your body weight.
Delayed Healing
High blood sugar can interfere with your body’s ability to heal cuts and wounds. This is because increased blood sugar can damage blood vessels, which can decrease the blood supply to the damaged areas. Even if you have small cuts or wounds, they may take weeks or even months to heal, increasing the risk of infections.
Numbness In Hands Or Feet
Another serious consequence of uncontrolled blood sugar is its impact on nerves. In the initial phase, you may only feel a slight tingling sensation in your hands or feet. However, if left untreated, it can exacerbate over time, resulting in complete numbness in the affected areas.
Takeaway
With the increasing prevalence of diabetes, it is important to look out for its warning signs to prevent them from worsening. If you notice any of these signs, schedule a consultation with our expert physicians at PCP For Life. You can call us at (281) 968-4096 for further assistance.
