5 Early Diabetes Warning Signs In Your Body To Watch Out For

Diabetes occurs when the level of glucose (sugar) in your blood becomes too high. This happens either because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin (or any at all) or because the body is not able to use insulin effectively. The condition can affect people of all ages. While most types of diabetes are lifelong, they can be managed through medications and lifestyle adjustments. 

5 Warning Signs Of Diabetes

There are, however, certain early signs that may indicate you’re at risk of developing diabetes. To understand these warning signs better, we spoke with Dr Saurish Hegde, MD in Community Medicine, public health expert, author, and founder of the Food Chain Campaign.

Constant hunger 

If you find yourself feeling unusually hungry in recent days, it might be a sign of diabetes. This happens because the body isn’t able to absorb glucose properly due to low insulin production. As a result, your cells don’t get enough energy, making you feel hungrier and often thirstier than usual.

Slow-healing wounds

Cuts or injuries that take an unusually long time to heal or even get worse can be a warning sign. This delayed healing happens because diabetes can weaken the immune system, affecting the body’s natural repair process.

Extreme fatigue 

When your body can’t absorb glucose effectively, it doesn’t get the energy it needs. This can leave you feeling tired or worn out more often than usual. If you notice frequent or unexplained fatigue, it could indicate diabetes.

Frequent infections

Diabetes weakens the immune system, making you more prone to infections such as fever, frequent colds, respiratory issues, or urinary tract infections. High blood sugar levels also provide a good environment for bacteria to grow, increasing the risk of infections.

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Increased urination

High blood sugar forces the kidneys to work harder to filter and remove the excess sugar, which leads to more frequent urination, especially during the night.

Types Of Diabetes

There are different types of diabetes, but the most common ones include:

• Type 2 diabetes: This is the most widespread form. In this type, the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t use it properly (a condition known as insulin resistance). It mainly affects adults, though it can also occur in children.
• Prediabetes: This stage comes before Type 2 diabetes. Blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be classified as diabetes.
• Type 1 diabetes: An autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Around 10% of people with diabetes have this type. It’s typically diagnosed in children and young adults but can develop at any age.
• Gestational diabetes: This type appears during pregnancy. Although it usually resolves after delivery, having gestational diabetes increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in the future.

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