10 Oft-Ignored Symptoms Of Diabetes

Due in part to its prevalence and manageability, diabetes is often viewed as more of an inconvenience than an existential threat. While very few people in countries with decent healthcare die of diabetes directly (such as by diabetic ketoacidosis, which is very unpleasant, and happens disproportionately in the US where insulin is sold with a 500%–3000% markup in price compared to other countries), many more die of complications arising from comorbidities, and as for what comorbidities come with diabetes, well, it increases your risk for almost everything.

So, while for most people diabetes is by no means a death sentence, it is something that means you’ll now have to watch out for pretty much everything else too. On which note, Dr. Siobhan Deshauer is here with things to be aware of:

More than your waistline

Some of these are early symptoms (even appearing in the prediabetic stage, so can be considered an early warning for diabetes), some are later risks (it’s unlikely you’ll lose your feet from diabetic neuropathy complications before noticing that you are diabetic), but all and any of them are good reason to speak with your doctor sooner rather than later:

1. Polyuria: waking up multiple times at night to urinate due to excess glucose spilling into the urine.
2. Increased thirst: dehydration from frequent urination leads to excessive thirst, creating a cycle.
3. Acanthosis nigricans: dark, velvety patches on areas like the neck, armpits, or groin, signalling insulin resistance.
4. Skin tags: multiple skin tags in areas of friction may indicate insulin resistance.
5. Recurrent Infections: high blood sugar weakens the immune system, making skin infections, UTIs, and yeast infections more common.
6. Diabetic stiff hand syndrome: stiffness in hands, limited movement, or a “positive prayer sign” caused by sugar binding to skin and tendon proteins.
7. Frozen shoulder and trigger finger: pain and limited movement in the shoulder or fingers, with a snapping sensation when moving inflamed tendons.
8. Neuropathy: numbness, tingling, or pain in hands and feet due to nerve and blood vessel damage, often leading to foot deformities like Charcot foot.
9. Diabetic foot infections: poor sensation, weakened immune response, and slow healing can result in severe infections and potential amputations.
10. Gastroparesis: damage to stomach nerves causes delayed digestion, leading to bloating, nausea, and erratic blood sugar levels.

For more on all of these, plus some visuals of the things like what exactly is a “positive prayer sign”, enjoy:

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You might also like to read:

Cost of Insulin by Country 2024 ← after the US, the next most expensive country is Chile, at around 1/5 of the price; the cheapest listed is Turkey, at around 1/33 of the price.

Take care!