8 warning signs of diabetes

The condition – the body’s inability to process sugar effectively, allowing it to build up in the blood – can be very serious, leading to heart diseasestroke, dementia and blindness.

The sooner you go to the doctor, diabetes The sooner it can be controlled and the more likely you are to avoid serious problems. Shutterstock

So it’s important to be on the lookout for the common warning signs of diabetes.

The sooner you go to the doctor, diabetes The sooner it can be controlled and the more likely you are to avoid serious problems.

Here are the warning signs of diabetes Eat This, Not That!

1. Constantly thirsty

A common early sign of diabetes is constant thirst. This happens due to the direct effect of sugar (glucose) accumulating in the blood.

The kidneys normally process glucose, but excessive amounts can overwhelm them.

When unprocessed glucose leaves the body in the urine, it pulls water from the tissues around the body.

That can make you dehydrated and appetite liquid to replace what you constantly lose.

If you are constantly thirsty despite drinking regularly, it could be a sign of diabetes Eat This, Not That!

2. Frequent urination

If you are urinating more than usual – especially if you wake up in the middle of the night to urinate – tell your primary care doctor as soon as possible. shutterstock

In the early stages of diabetes, the body may increase urine production, trying to get rid of that excess sugar.

The average person urinates 7 to 8 times a day; Up to 10 times may be normal for some people.

If you are urinating more than usual – especially if you wake up in the middle of the night to urinate – tell your primary care doctor as soon as possible.

3. Excessive hunger

At the same time, diabetes causes the amount of glucose in the blood to rise, which prevents cells from using that glucose for energy.

To compensate for the lack of fuel, the body generates hunger signals.

If you are constantly hungry despite eating regularly, it could be a warning sign of diabetes.

4. Or tired

Since diabetes raises blood sugar while preventing your body from using it for energy, it can make you tired.

Frequent urination can also disrupt your sleep.

If you’re constantly feeling tired — the type of fatigue that doesn’t improve with enough sleep — then you should call your doctor.

5. Cuts or bruises that are hard to heal

Diabetes can make skin wounds like cuts and bruises slow to resolve.

High blood sugar can harden blood vessels, slow blood flow and prevent oxygen and nutrients from reaching cuts and bruises to heal them. Eat This, Not That!

Diabetes can also weaken the immune system, slowing down the body’s natural repair process.

6. Blurry vision

Do you have blurred vision? shutterstock

High blood sugar levels pull fluid from your tissues, even the lens of your eye.

This can affect your ability to focus, causing blurred vision.

Diabetes can also cause new blood vessels to form in the retina, damaging already formed vessels.

If those changes progress left untreated, they can lead to vision loss.

7. Erectile Dysfunction

High blood sugar can damage arteries throughout the body. That can cause problems with the heart, brain, and underneath.

Damaged blood vessels can be less efficient at transporting blood flow to the penis, causing erections that are less frequent, harder to achieve, or softer than usual.

8. Unusual weight loss

Losing weight without dieting or increasing exercise could be a sign of a condition health as serious as diabetes.

When diabetes prevents cells from absorbing glucose from food for energy, the body can begin to burn fat stores for alternative fuel.

If you lose weight without trying, you should see your doctor and ask if you should be tested for diabetes. Eat This, Not That!