Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFrequent UrinationFrequent InfectionsWorsening VisionExtreme FatigueSlow HealingWeight LossThirsty or HungryTingling/NumbnessWhen to Get Help
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Frequent Urination
Frequent Infections
Worsening Vision
Extreme Fatigue
Slow Healing
Weight Loss
Thirsty or Hungry
Tingling/Numbness
When to Get Help
Indiabetes, you have too muchglucose (sugar) in the blood. This is because your body either can’t produceinsulin(type 1 diabetes) or doesn’t use it properly (type 2 diabetes).
Some people have no symptoms of early diabetes. When they do occur, type 1 diabetes tends to cause sudden symptoms, while type 2 is generally more gradual.
Most early signs are the same for both types, but some tend to be unique to the type. They include:
The article explores the early symptoms of diabetes and when you should get medical attention.
Theresa Chiechi / Verywell
More Frequent Urination
Thekidneyshelp process and filter glucose, with much of it normally being reabsorbed into the body.
However, the kidneys can’t keep up when your blood glucose level gets too high. That leads to glucose spilling over into the urine to be excreted from the body, which meansurinating more often.
In children, this sometimes leads to nighttime bedwetting and accidents after potty training. Adults might not notice the increased frequency unless it means waking up more often to use the bathroom.
Frequent UTIs or Yeast Infections
The presence of glucose in the urinary tract and genital area may lead to infections, such asurinary tract infections(UTIs) oryeast infections.
Researchers also suspect that poor circulation and a weak immune response may also play a role in the increased risk of infections. These problems are common in people with diabetes, especially if it’s not well controlled.
These infections are more common in those with female genitalia but can occur in anyone.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in Men
Suddenly Worsening Vision
High blood glucose levels cause the lens of the eye to swell, which changes your vision. It can causeblurred visionand an inability to make out fine details.
The good news is that your vision should return to normal once your blood glucose levels are in the desirable range.
Prevent Complications of Diabetes
While experts are unsure about the exact causes, many people with high blood glucose levels experience fatigue. Possible reasons include:
Anytime fatigue interferes with your daily life, you should talk to your healthcare provider about it.
Slow-healing wounds—including cuts, grazes, blisters, and bruises—or wounds that worsen are a more serious sign of diabetes. You should talk to your healthcare provider about it as soon as possible.
Possible causes of slow healing in diabetes include:
Slow-healing cuts and wounds can be especially troublesome if they affect the feet. If foot wounds aren’t promptly treated, it can lead to more severe complications, including amputation.
Special Foot Care for Diabetes
Unintended Weight Loss
If you’re ever losing weight without trying and don’t know why, you should get checked out soon.
Unintended weight loss can be a symptom of several conditions, including diabetes. It is more common in type 1 diabetes.
Extreme Thirst or Hunger
Feeling hungrier and/or thirstier than usual, despite eating and drinking more, can be a sign of diabetes.
Hunger signals come from cells that can’t remove glucose from your blood and use it properly, so they don’t have enough energy to function. They then signal your body to eat more to boost energy.
Tingling or Numbness in Extremities
Tingling, numbness, or pain in your hand, fingers, feet, or toes is a sign of nerve damage from diabetes. This is calleddiabeticneuropathy.
This symptom is common in people who’ve had uncontrolled diabetes for a long period of time. It can occur in people who are diagnosed, as well.
Beyond the Hands and FeetIn some cases, diabetic nerve damage can cause problems with internal organs, including your bladder and heart.
Beyond the Hands and Feet
In some cases, diabetic nerve damage can cause problems with internal organs, including your bladder and heart.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Diagnosing Diabetes
Tests for diabetes include:
How to Check Your Blood Sugar
Risk Factors
If you have risk factors for diabetes, you should be especially alert to early symptoms and get checked right away if you notice some.
RISK FACTORTYPE 1TYPE 2Family history✓✓Child or young adult✓45 or older✓Prediabetes✓Excess weight✓Low physical activity✓Gestational diabetes✓Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease✓Black, Native American,Latino, Alasakan Native,Pacific Islander, Asian American✓SummaryNot everyone has early diabetes symptoms. If you do, they may include increased urination, frequent UTIs or yeast infections, suddenly worsening vision, extreme fatigue, slow healing, unintended weight loss, extreme thirst or hunger, and diabetic neuropathy.You should see your healthcare provider soon if you have any of these symptoms, especially if you’re at-risk for diabetes due to your family or medical history, lifestyle factors, and ethnicity.A Word From VerywellBytaking care of your general healthand being in tune with your body, you can be more aware of when something seems off. If you notice any of these signs of diabetes, it’s critical to seek testing and examination with your primary care provider and see a specialist as needed.Diabetes is a manageable condition, but early detection and treatment under the care of a trusted medical professional are key.
Summary
Not everyone has early diabetes symptoms. If you do, they may include increased urination, frequent UTIs or yeast infections, suddenly worsening vision, extreme fatigue, slow healing, unintended weight loss, extreme thirst or hunger, and diabetic neuropathy.
You should see your healthcare provider soon if you have any of these symptoms, especially if you’re at-risk for diabetes due to your family or medical history, lifestyle factors, and ethnicity.
A Word From Verywell
Bytaking care of your general healthand being in tune with your body, you can be more aware of when something seems off. If you notice any of these signs of diabetes, it’s critical to seek testing and examination with your primary care provider and see a specialist as needed.
Diabetes is a manageable condition, but early detection and treatment under the care of a trusted medical professional are key.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kalra S, Sahay R.Diabetes fatigue syndrome.Diabetes Ther. 2018;9(4):1421-1429. doi:10.1007/s13300-018-0453-x
Baltzis D, Eleftheriadou I, Veves A.Pathogenesis and treatment of impaired wound healing in diabetes mellitus: new insights.Adv Ther. 2014;31(8):817-836. doi:10.1007/s12325-014-0140-x
National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetic neuropathy.
American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee.2. Classification and diagnosis of diabetes:Standards of medical care in diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement_1):S17-S38. doi:10.2337/dc22-S002
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