JOMBANG, KabarJombang.com – Diabetes is a chronic disease that often goes unnoticed.
Many people only realize they have diabetes when they have serious complications.
Actually, the development of diabetes symptoms depends on the type of diabetes you have.
Typically, type 1 diabetes symptoms can appear within a few weeks or months, while type 2 diabetes symptoms can take several years to develop.
Diabetes symptoms that often don’t come true
At the time of diagnosis, patients may have more classic symptoms of diabetes such as fatigue, increased urination, and excessive thirst and hunger.
But there are many other diabetes symptoms that can be warning signs of the condition that many people are unaware of.
The following are symptoms of diabetes that are often not realized:
1. Skin changes
Some skin conditions can be the first sign that you have diabetes.
An example is acanthosis nigricans or the appearance of dark, velvety patches that usually develop in the creases or folds of the skin.
Increased insulin levels can cause acanthosis nigricans. Insulin is a hormone that helps move glucose (blood sugar) around cells for energy.
Sometimes cells fight the insulin, and more insulin is produced in response.
Elevated insulin levels are an indication of insulin resistance, which is a trigger for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
- Vision changes
Some vision changes can be a sign that your blood sugar is rising.
Too much sugar can damage the small vessels in the eye and cause fluid changes, which affects the clarity of vision.
Some of the first vision changes may include blurred vision or difficulty reading or seeing distant objects.
If left untreated, vision changes can get worse, and you may see dark, floating spots or streaks.
- Hearing changes
People with diabetes are also at greater risk of hearing loss. In fact, diabetes can double the risk of hearing loss.
This is due to damage to the nerves in the ears which can be caused by high or low blood sugar levels.
Long-term high blood sugar can damage the small blood vessels and nerves in the inner ear.
Long-term low blood sugar can also damage the way nerve signals are sent from the inner ear to the brain.
- Often infected
People with diabetes are at increased risk of infections, including bacterial infections such as those around the nails or hair follicles, as well as boils and pustules (when the glands in the eyelids become infected).
Frequent infections can occur because the combination of high blood sugar creates an environment for bacteria to grow and weakens the immune response.
