10 Symptoms of Uncontrolled Diabetes You Should Not Ignore
Pay attention to what your body is trying to tell you! Find out what are the 10 warning signs of diabetes, why they occur and when to seek medical help. Early detection saves lives.
Introduction
Diabetes is a chronic health disease that more than 537 million adults worldwide (IDF, 2023) have, yet almost 1 out of 5 people don’t even know they have it. The early signs of diabetes can be subtle, and many people don’t realize anything is wrong. But if you ignore these warning signs, you could end up with damaging complications like heart disease, kidney damage, or vision loss.
Whether you are predisposed due to family history, lifestyle and/or age, the early warning signs of diabetes is something you need to know. This guide breaks down the 10 most common symptoms, why they occur and what action steps you can take to safeguard your health.
Frequent Urination (Polyuria)
What it feels like: You have to pee all the time, including getting up in the middle of the night to pee multiple times.
Why it happens: “Elevated blood sugar forces your kidneys to work extra hard to filter and absorb the excess glucose,” Dr. Spiro says. When they can’t, the excess sugar is eliminated through urine, essentially taking fluids with.
Key take-away: If you’re peeing more than 7–8 times a day (from normal amounts of water intake), get your blood sugar checked.
Polydipsia (Uncontrollable Thirst)
What it feels like: A dry, cottony oral cavity that water never appears to quench.
Why it happens: Frequent urination dehydrates the body, which sends signals to the brain to replace the fluids you’ve lost. That creates a self-reinforcing cycle of drinking more and peeing more.
One thing to watch for: Constant thirst along with frequent urination is a classic combination of diabetes symptoms.
Weight Loss You Can’t Account For
What it feels like: Dropping pounds without trying — or exercising.
Why it happens: If you don’t have sufficient insulin to metabolize glucose, your body burns fat and muscle for energy. This is not unusual in type 1 diabetes yet it can also appear in type 2 that is advanced.
Takeaway message: If you’ve experienced an unintentional loss of 5–10 percent of your body weight, see a doctor right away.
Extreme Hunger (Polyphagia)
What it feels like: Fierce hunger even if you’ve just eaten a large meal.
Why it happens: If your cells are unresponsive to insulin (or you don’t have enough of it), glucose can’t get into them and do its job of acting as an energy source. Your body thinks it’s starving, so it releases signals of hunger.
Quick note: Constant hunger + others (thirst, fatigue) = strong diabetes indicator.
Fatigue and Irritability
What it feels like: Feeling tired, like you have brain fog or are moody even after a full eight hours of sleep.
Why it happens: If your cells can’t get to glucose (your body’s energy source), energy levels go down. High blood sugar itself also leads to inflammation, which also exacerbates fatigue.
Key takeaway: Chronic fatigue is a leading symptom citing 80 percent of undiagnosed people with diabetes.
Blurred Vision
What it feels like: Eyesight is cloudy or distorted, or it is hard to focus.
Why it occurs: Elevated levels of blood sugar cause the eye lens to swell and change its shape. This is usually transient, but can lead to diabetic retinopathy if untreated.
Takeaway: Unexpected changes in vision should be followed by a blood sugar test, even if the changes seem mild.
Cuts or Infections That Won’t Heal If a cut or wound is slow to heal or is developing an infection, this might signify high blood glucose.
What it feels like: Small cuts, bruises or infections that take weeks to heal.
Why it occurs: Elevated glucose levels harm blood vessels and nerves, blunting circulation and the immune system.
Main takeaway: If a person has recurring infections (like UTIs, yeast infections, or gum disease), keep an eye out.
Numbness or Tingling in Fingers/Toes
What it feels like: Pins-and-needles, burning or disconnection.
Why it happens: Over time, high blood sugar can damage nerves, leading to diabetes-associated neuropathy. This usually begins in the peripheries.
One key message: Early nerve damage can be reversed; don’t ignore “pins and needles.”
Dry, Itchy Skin
How it feels: Coarse, flaky patches or itchy skin, especially on your hands, arms, legs and feet.
Why it happens: There is less moisture in the skin when you aren’t drinking as much due to the poor circulation and frequent urination of pregnancy. Yeast infections, which are more common in diabetes, can also result in itching.
Takeaway: Skin problems that won’t go away can be a sign of blood sugar out of control.
Sweet or fruity-smelling breath
What it feels like: Breath that smells like nail polish remover or rotten fruit.
Why it happens: If there is severe insulin deficiency, your body may start burning fat instead of glucose, and acidic ketones are a byproduct. This leads to DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) which can be fatal.
Take-away: Fruity breath + nausea/vomiting = Get to emergency care NOW.
What to Do Now: Next Steps in Your Action Plan
If you’re having at least 2 of these symptoms, follow these guidelines:
Test Your Blood Sugar:– Use a home glucometer (fasting blood sugar on ≥126 mg/dL or random ≥200 mg/dL is indicative of diabetes).
Get to your doctor: Have them test your HbA1c (average blood sugar over 3 months).
Adjust Your Lifestyle
Cut down on refined carbs and sugary drinks.
Tack on 30 minutes of physical activity daily (even walking!)
Stop smoking and limit alcohol.
Check in regularly: Follow symptoms and blood glucose levels.
Question-Answer section (FAQ)
Q1: Can symptoms of diabetes onset all of a sudden?
A: Type 1 diabetes usually occurs rapidly (days/weeks) in onset. Symptoms of type 2 usually sneak up on us a little bit at a time.
Q2: Are these symptoms identical for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?
A: The two overlap significantly, but both sudden weight loss and fruity odor of the breath are more common in Type 1.
Q3: Do symptoms occur due to prediabetes?
A: Prediabetes does not often have any clear symptoms, though some individuals may experience mild fatigue or an increased thirst.
Q4: How precise are at-home blood sugar checks?
A: Glucometers are good for initial screening, but they must be confirmed by laboratory tests.
Conclusion
Early warning signs of diabetes can be scary to anyone, but once you know what they are, seeking prompt treatment can help you reverse prediabetes and bring Type 2 diabetes under control. Listen to your body — something as basic as never ending thirst or vision issues could be the death of a lifetime.
If you experience these symptoms, remember that is okay. Make yourself an appointment, request bloodwork, and seize control and your health now. Send this guide to all your friends and family to help keep them informed, too!
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