For anyone with unstable blood glucose levels, knowing the first signs of diabetes is important. Detecting the disease early may lead to more effective treatment and prevention of further damage. Understanding the cause of these symptoms is just as important in making the appropriate lifestyle and medical changes to address the condition.

Frequent Urination and Excessive Thirst

When blood sugar levels are too high, the body makes adjustments to keep the body from shutting down. Kidneys go into overdrive in an attempt to balance blood sugar levels, and excess sugar is excreted through urination. Aside from frequent trips to the bathroom, this process saps the body of water, leading to constant thirst.

Extreme Fatigue

There are a few factors that can lead to excessive fatigue in diabetics. Dehydration certainly doesn’t help. High blood sugar slows the circulation of blood, making it more difficult to distribute oxygen and vital nutrients throughout the body. On the other hand, blood that’s too low in sugar can’t provide cells the energy they need to properly function. All of these conditions result in feeling tired and sluggish.

Blurred Vision

Many people are unaware of the drastic effects that diabetes can have on the eyes. Water is pulled into the lens of the eye, causing swelling that leads to blurred vision. Balancing blood sugar levels can alleviate these symptoms. However, the longer blood sugar levels are off, the more blood vessels in the retina can weaken, effecting blood flow and leaking fluids. Over time, this can result in permanent blindness.

Cuts and Bruises

It’s not the presence of cuts and bruises that’s significant, but their failure to heal in a normal amount of time. A correlation between slow healing wounds and high blood sugar shows that diabetes hinders the body’s ability to heal itself effectively. Damaged blood vessels aren’t able to assist as much as they need to for recovery.

Hunger and Weight Loss

If blood sugar is too high, the body excretes sugar through urination, and the body loses calories in the process. In the case of low blood glucose, or if the body loses the ability to properly absorb sugar, constant hunger and rapid weight loss can arise.

Tingling or Numb Extremities

If your arms, legs, fingers or toes tingle or feel numb, you might have nerve damage resulting from diabetes. This results from the excessive blood sugar, slow blood flow, and inflammation associated with the disease.