Early Symptoms of Diabetes
1. Frequent Urination (Polyuria)
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High blood sugar causes your kidneys to work harder to remove excess glucose.
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Leads to more trips to the bathroom, especially at night (nocturia).
2. Excessive Thirst (Polydipsia)
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Loss of fluids from frequent urination makes you very thirsty.
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Drinking more water may still not fully quench thirst.
3. Extreme Hunger (Polyphagia)
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Body cells cannot use glucose effectively, so your body signals for more food.
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Often accompanied by unexplained weight loss, especially in type 1 diabetes.
4. Unexplained Weight Loss
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Common in type 1, can happen in type 2.
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Body burns fat and muscle for energy because glucose isn’t entering cells properly.
5. Fatigue
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High blood sugar and poor glucose absorption make you feel unusually tired.
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Even after sleeping well, you may feel drained.
6. Blurred Vision
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Excess glucose can pull fluid from tissues, including the lenses of your eyes, affecting focus.
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Vision may fluctuate throughout the day.
7. Slow-Healing Wounds or Frequent Infections
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High blood sugar weakens the immune system.
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Cuts, scrapes, or infections (skin, gums, urinary tract) may take longer to heal.
8. Tingling or Numbness in Hands or Feet (Neuropathy)
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Early nerve damage can cause pins-and-needles sensations, especially in type 2 diabetes.
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Often starts subtly and may be ignored.
9. Skin Changes
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Dark patches of skin, usually on the neck, armpits, or groin (acanthosis nigricans), can indicate insulin resistance.
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Dry, itchy skin is also common.
When to See a Doctor
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If you notice two or more of these symptoms, get a blood sugar test.
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Early detection can prevent serious complications like kidney damage, vision loss, or nerve damage.
💡 Tip:
Type 2 diabetes symptoms often develop slowly over months or years, while type 1 can appear suddenly over days to weeks, especially in children and young adults.
If you want, I can make a table comparing type 1 vs type 2 diabetes early symptoms, so you can see the differences at a glance. This is super useful for spotting diabetes early.
Do you want me to do that?
