Feeling run down and low on energy is a classic sign of diabetes. When your body is having trouble processing and regulating sugar, it can leave you feeling weak and lethargic even if you are getting plenty of sleep at night. Blood sugar spikes and dips are the results of your body not producing enough insulin to properly process carbohydrates and other high sugar foods. Feelings of tiredness and lack of energy that last more than a week are a cause for concern. If you feel particularly tired after large meals or eating high sugar foods, then this is a sign that you should make an appointment for a diabetes screening. Many people overlook fatigue because they think it is just a by-product of a busy lifestyle.
Frequent Urination
Too much sugar in your blood causes your kidneys to go into overdrive trying to flush excess sugars out of your body. Making a lot of trips to the bathroom can have a big impact on your daily life. Those suffering from diabetes may find that they feel like they can never actually empty their bladder. Spasms and other side effects of frequent urination may send someone to the doctor thinking that they are suffering from a urinary tract infection which is a very common ailment, especially for women.
Loss Of Restful Sleep
Frequently being unable to sleep is a sign of diabetes. Sometimes the need to urinate frequently is the most common culprit contributing to the lack of sleep. Getting urination under control is often all that is needed to get patients back into a good sleep routine. Stress and other issues from underlying medical concerns can also contribute to insomnia. If lack of sleep is interfering with your energy level during the day, then it is time to take steps to combat the issue. A good level of rest helps your immune system fight off the effects of diabetes and other illnesses that can occur as secondary issues.
Dry Mouth And Lips
Since your kidneys are using a lot of water when trying to flush accumulated sugars from your body, it is easy to get a dry mouth or lips. Too much dryness in your mouth can lead to tooth and gum issues. It is very important to drink a lot of water if your body is craving it but don’t ignore why this is happening to you. Getting your blood sugar levels under control will decrease the amount of water your body is craving. Lip balm can help soothe dry and chapped lips and avoid issues such as splitting and cracking.
Blurred Vision
Your kidneys are good at pulling water from anywhere they can. As fluid is pulled from different areas of your body, it can begin to affect your vision. In fact, the shape of your eye can change enough that you cannot use your current glasses or wear contact lenses. If you experience major changes in vision, then a simple eye exam can help determine what the cause of the problem is so you can seek further testing and treatment if necessary. Make sure that any tasks you do that require good vision are done with extreme caution. Major vision disruptions can affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
Unusual Weight Loss
If your body is not producing enough insulin to break down complex and simple carbohydrates and sugars, then it can turn to other sources for energy. Stored fat and protein in your body are one of the first sources of energy. This process can not only cause loss of fat, but you can also lose muscle tone due to the increased demand for protein that your body has. This weight loss usually only lasts for a short period and then you can gain it all back or just not lose anymore depending on how you manage your diet. Weight loss of more than 5 pounds is considered significant and should be mentioned at any medical check up.
Sweet And Fruity Breath
The process where your body begins to burn stored fat and protein is known as ketosis. Another side effect of ketosis is that your breath will get a distinctive smell that is fruity and may also smell like nail polish remover. This smell is caused by ketones in your body and is a sign that you have unmanaged diabetes. If you or your family notice this symptom and you continue to have breath that smells this way, then you should be evaluated for diabetes. Sometimes bad breath is a symptom of another condition, but that doesn’t mean that seeking medical advice is not a necessary thing to do.
Still Hungry After Eating
Since diabetes causes your body not to be able to utilize easily the energy you get from consuming carbohydrates and sugars, it will signal a response that causes your appetite to increase. Sometimes appetite changes are very strong. If you don’t seem to be gaining weight even though your appetite has increased a lot, then this might mean your body is experiencing major ketosis symptoms that need to be checked out promptly. You may craze foods that you cannot break down properly which can just complicate the problems you are having. Unusual amounts of food cravings that you didn’t previously have is a warning sign that your blood sugar is not what it should be. Blood sugar is easy to test using a simple monitor from the drug store. If your levels go up and down a lot or just seem to stay high, then you need to get real treatment from a qualified doctor.
Upset Stomach
If your body is in a state of ketosis, then it can become overloaded with the by-products of this known as ketones. In some individuals, ketones can make for an upset stomach or chronic nausea. This is not a symptom that everyone gets but it is something to be aware of it you suspect that you might be on the verge of having or if you are already suffering from diabetes. Nausea often goes away once blood sugar levels are stabilized but may return again if levels don’t remain stable. Over the counter stomach, remedies can offer some relief but will do nothing to combat the real cause of your stomach distress.
High Ketone Levels In Urine
It is very easy to test for excessive ketones in your urine. Inexpensive test strips can be purchased at any drug store and many grocers and online retailers. When you urinate the test strip is exposed to your urine and can determine if your body is in ketosis. High levels of ketones mean you should be tested for diabetes or an infection promptly before symptoms become worse. Sometime urinary tract infections can cause elevated levels of ketones that are not the result of any diabetic issue. Test strips are not a substitute for the medical advice of your doctor. If you have other symptoms but find that you don’t have ketones, it is possible that you are prediabetic. Those that do not have actual diabetes yet can often prevent themselves from developing the condition.
Shortness Of Breath
When blood sugar levels spike an crash, this can result in a cascade of ketones into the body that can lead to shortness of breath. If this happens often, then you should talk to your doctor about methods to get your diabetes under control. Shortness of breath is a serious condition that should never be ignored. There are many other serious conditions that can have shortness of breath as a side effect. Cardiac issues can sometimes be related to diabetes and obesity. If shortness of breath occurs after you eat a high sugar or carbohydrate rich meal, then this points to diabetes as the underlying cause of your distress.
Tingling Or Numbness
High blood sugar has an effect on nerve endings in your body that can cause occasional or frequent feelings of numbness or light tingling. Of course, this side effect can also indicate other health issues that are unrelated to your suspected diabetes. Any nerve issues should be evaluated to prevent any further damage or discomfort. If you have actual blood sugar issues, then it is likely that these symptoms will go away entirely unless there is a secondary cause. If numbness is accompanied by dizziness or disorientation, then you should seek medical attention immediately in case you are having a cardiac event.
Foot Sores Don’t Heal
Poor blood circulation, numb feelings, and tingling are all hard enough to deal with, but they may also contribute to hard to heal sores or ulcers on your feet. Since diabetics are more prone to infections and have a harder time getting rid of them, any abrasions or sores need to be treated with extreme caution. In major cases diabetics sometimes have toes or even feet removed due to infections that started with what was thought to be just a small sore that didn’t need to be fussed over. When you have diabetes, wearing the right type of socks and footwear to promote proper circulation is essential for good long-term health and prevention of complications.
Cuts That Stick Around
Even a small cut needs to be taken seriously if you suspect or know for sure that you have diabetes. Applying antibiotic ointment to even minor scratches can help prevent major problems later on. Your body just doesn’t heal properly at times if you have medical problems that are stressing your body. Even if diabetes is not the cause of your lack of healing, it is likely that something else is wrong. Genetic problems related to healing are rare but can occur. Some wounds may be deeper than you realize and need the assistance of a doctor to heal properly.
Hypertension
When you have diabetes, your veins shrink and become more restrictive of blood flow which leads to high blood pressure. This side effect can lead to other health problems if left untreated. A lot of cases of diabetes are treated with medications that regulate blood sugar and pressure. Hypertension can cause sufferers to feel easily angered or agitated. Hypertension can cause more serious cardiac problems if allowed to go untreated. Those with a family history of hypertension should be extremely cautious. Those suffering from high blood pressure may sometimes feel short of breath or disoriented when blood pressure spikes. Associated conditions include hardening of the arteries. Diabetes is a very complicated condition that can be related to many others.
Dizziness and Fainting
Dehydration from heavy urination combined with poor blood flow throughout your body can lead to fainting or totally debilitating dizziness. Diabetics should not operate heavy machinery or drive until they have a good control on their body. It is important not to confuse fainting with low blood sugar and give someone sugary foods. Some people that have not received an official diagnosis of diabetes assume this is the case as well and then eat a meal, not realizing that they are doing themselves a lot more harm than good. Making assumptions when it comes to your health can be dangerous and lead to complications.
Frequent Infections
Diabetes can be hard on your immune system so you will be prone to more infections than the average person. When blood flow is restricted, then your body doesn’t have the circulation it needs to fight off infections. High blood sugar provides a breeding ground for infections to multiply more rapidly than usual. Sometimes infections are a coincidence, especially if you work around a lot of people at a medical center or school. If infections are very frequent, then you might want to check with your doctor to make sure that you don’t have a major medical condition that is causing them.
Gum Disease
The combination of a dry mouth and lower blood circulation can make you prone to gum disease. It is important to drink a lot of extra water. You may want to increase a number of times you brush and floss each day to help decrease the possibility of plaque, cavities, and other mouth conditions. Your dentist can help recommend a sensible routine for someone with diabetes. The severity of your condition and how well you control it over time will be some of the deciding factors in your long-term dental health. It’s imperative to keep a close eye on your gums for signs of sores or pustules as this can be a sign of an abscess, a very serious infection of the tooth.
Chronic Headaches
Headaches that last for more than a week mean you should see your doctor. If headaches every become so overwhelming that you cannot get through your day, then you need to go immediately. The week time frame is just a guideline because sometimes if you just have a cold or virus you can be achy for that long, and it is not considered something to panic about. Diabetes-related headaches are caused when blood sugar levels rise, and the kidneys work overtime to flush the excess sugar away. If blood sugar drops too low, then constriction of blood vessels in the head can also cause headaches.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Women sometimes develop Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Diabetes at the same time. This is a serious condition that can have a big effect on the fertility of women of child bearing age. When it occurs in adults, it is often actually caused by a lot of weight gain. Younger women that have just begun to menstruate may see signs immediately. If fact, most diagnoses do occur in this age group. Symptoms can include irregular periods, acne, excess male hormones, and sacs around the ovaries. It is important to get a check-up if you have these symptoms. Younger women sometimes ignore the symptoms or irregular periods and acne because they can be a common part of puberty and adolescence.
Obesity
If you weight a lot more than is healthy, it can make you much more prone to diabetes. In fact, Type II Diabetes has become more common since obesity rates have risen sharply. Sometimes diabetes symptoms can go away completely with weight loss, exercise, and a more balanced diet. Even a small weight loss can help reduce the about of medication needed to control your diabetes and live a healthy life. Your doctor and a weight loss support group can provide a lot of help with figuring out how to meet your weight loss goals. Obesity can cause diabetes to occur in children as well so although it can be difficult to realize that a child needs to lose weight, it is important to realize how imperative this is for their long term health. Diabetes can reduce overall lifespan, especially if it starts when someone is very young.
