4. Drastic weight loss
In addition to always wanting to eat, drastic weight loss can be a sign of diabetes. Weight loss is said to be drastic if the loss is more than 5% of your total body weight.
Normally, the body will use glycogen (glucose) as an energy source. However, because insulin is unable to process glucose into energy, the body begins to “look for” other sources from the body, namely protein.
The body will break down fat and muscle for energy, and this breakdown of muscle and fat is what makes diabetics lose weight.
5. Dry skin
Diabetes can also affect the skin. Diabetics often experience early signs of diabetes such as itchy and dry, scaly, or cracked skin.
According to the American Diabetes Association, 1 in 3 people will experience these early signs of diabetes as skin problems are a common symptom of diabetes.
This condition occurs because your body loses a lot of fluid through urine. As a result, the skin loses its natural moisture.
In addition, itchy skin due to diabetes can occur due to reduced nerve sensitivity and obstruction of blood circulation. High blood sugar affects the functioning of the nervous system and causes the body to produce more cytokines (small proteins for cell signaling).
Excessive production of cytokines can cause inflammation in the body. And this inflammatory reaction causes dry, itchy, and cracked skin.
Another of the early signs of diabetes that can be seen on the skin is the appearance of dark patches. This occurs due to excessive pigment production due to high insulin levels in diabetics. Changes are usually characterized by the skin turning dark or scaly with the appearance of wrinkles in the area.
6. Wounds that don’t heal
Infections, insect bites, bruises, or diabetic wounds that don’t heal can be one of the early signs of diabetes. This condition occurs because high blood sugar levels cause the walls of the arteries to narrow and harden.
As a result, the flow of oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body is blocked. The injured body part needs oxygen and nutrients contained in the blood so that it can heal. And because of this, open wound healing in diabetics tends to be slower.
In addition, the early signs of diabetes are also exacerbated by a weak immune system. High blood sugar levels make the cells responsible for maintaining the immune system weaken. As a result, the slightest wound can become a severe infection that is difficult to treat.
7. Visual problems
Eyesight declines with age. However, if you often complain of visual problems such as blurred, blurry, or cloudy vision at a young age, you should be aware that this is one of the symptoms of diabetes.
The high blood glucose of diabetics can cause nerve damage and bleeding in the blood vessels of the eye. In severe cases, impaired vision due to diabetes can also cause cataracts, glaucoma, and even permanent blindness.
8. Tingling sensation on the fingers and toes
Another common symptom of diabetes is tingling, numbness, or a cold sensation in the feet. In addition, another of the early signs of diabetes is swelling of the feet and hands.
There are many factors that can cause tingling. However, in most cases, tingling in the hands or feet that lasts for a long time can be a symptom of nerve damage from a systemic disease such as diabetes.
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