Diabetes is one of the common chronic diseases and is often referred to asa “silent threat.”Many patients show almost no symptoms in the early stages. By the time they become aware, their blood sugar levels have often been elevated for a long time, which can affect the heart, kidneys, eyes, and nervous system in the future. Therefore, recognizing the body’s warning signs is crucial and should not be ignored.
1. Blurred vision or unclear eyesight
If you start seeing images less clearly, find reading difficult, or experience occasional blurred vision, you should have your eyes checked and blood sugar levels tested, as these symptoms may be related to diabetes.
2. Frequent urination, especially at night
When blood sugar is high, the kidneys work harder to remove excess sugar through urine, causing you to urinate more often than usual or pass visibly larger amounts of urine.
3. Frequent hunger and increased eating but still feeling unsatisfied
Even if you eat normally or more than usual, you may still feel hungry all the time. This can happen because the body cannot effectively use sugar as energy.
4. Unintentional weight loss
If your weight decreases continuously without dieting or increased exercise, you should be cautious and consult a doctor, as this may be a sign of diabetes.
5. Easy fatigue, weakness, or lack of energy
People with high blood sugar may feel weak, tired, or fatigued more easily because the body's cells do not receive enough energy.
6. Excessive thirst
If you feel unusually thirsty and need to drink water more often than usual, even without much physical exertion or heat, this could be a sign related to elevated blood sugar levels.
7. Slow-healing wounds
Small wounds that take a long time to heal or become easily infected are another warning sign not to overlook, as high blood sugar can affect the body's healing process.
8. Dry skin and frequent itching
Some diabetes patients experience dry skin, frequent itching, or skin irritation more often than usual due to changes in blood sugar levels affecting the body's balance.
9. Increased susceptibility to infections
Persistent high blood sugar can reduce the body's ability to fight infections, leading to frequent or recurrent infections, especially on the skin and wounds.
10. Frequent numbness in hands and feet
Long-term high blood sugar may damage nerves, causing numbness or a prickling sensation in the hands and feet. Some may also feel burning, particularly at night.
If you experience several of these symptoms together or they persist for a long time, do not dismiss them as mere fatigue or daily stress. You should have your blood sugar tested and consult a doctor to determine the true cause.
Additionally, if you are overweight, have a family history of diabetes, or other risk factors, even without symptoms, regular annual health screenings are recommended because diabetes may develop without early warning signs.
Weight loss is key to treatment because accumulated fat, especially around the abdomen, can interfere with insulin function, making blood sugar control difficult. If you can consistently lose weight, control your diet, and adopt healthy behaviors, blood sugar levels may return to normal without medication, a condition called“disease remission.”
However, regular health monitoring remains necessary because diabetes can recur. Early recognition of diabetes warning signs leads to timely diagnosis and treatment, reducing complication risks and helping maintain a good quality of life long term.
Information provided by:Bangkok Hospital