The onset of type 2 diabetes is pretty gradual, and symptoms can be mild during the early stages
Diabetes Symptoms: Even though it is a common condition, diabetes is serious and if you have it, you need to manage and regularly monitor your blood sugar levels to be sure they are within the target. According to experts, the onset of type 2 diabetes is pretty gradual, and symptoms can be mild during the early stages. As a result, many people may not realize that they have this condition.
Notably, a few warning signs are particularly evident, especially during the morning hours. Understanding these symptoms can help in early detection and management of the condition. Here are a few morning-specific warning signs of diabetes you need to take seriously:
Increased thirst
Once you wake up and feel extremely thirsty, it is fine once in a while. However, according to doctors, if it is a recurrent phenomenon, and you are more thirsty than normal, it can be a sign of diabetes, which needs to be checked thoroughly.
Experts say the frequent urination necessary to remove excess sugar from the blood can result in the body losing additional water, leading to dehydration.
Morning hyperglycemia
Also known as the dawn phenomenon, morning hyperglycemia happens when your blood sugar levels rise significantly in the early morning hours, typically between 4 and 8 am.
Doctors say it happens due to your body’s natural circadian rhythm, which increases the production of glucose and hormones like cortisol. These lead to insulin resistance, causing blood sugar levels to be high upon waking.
Frequent urination
When your blood sugar levels are high, your kidneys remove the excess sugar by filtering it out of the blood. This can lead to a person needing to urinate, especially during the morning hours.
Dryness in the mouth
If you wake up with a dry mouth, it can also be a potential sign of diabetes. Doctors say high blood sugar levels lead to dehydration, as your body would use more fluids to flush out excess glucose. This results in dry mouth, which you may particularly notice in the morning hours.
Blurred vision
If you wake up and are not able to see clearly, doctors say it could be because of excess sugar in the blood that damages tiny blood vessels in the eyes, leading to blurry vision. This occurs in one or both eyes.
High blood sugar levels also lead to swelling of the eye lens, causing blurred vision but are expected to improve when blood sugar levels reduce. If a person with diabetes goes without treatment, the damage to these blood vessels can become more severe, and permanent vision loss may eventually occur.
Tingling and numbness in hands and feet
High blood sugar levels affect blood circulation and thus you may feel that your nerves are damaged. In those with type 2 diabetes, it causes pain or a sensation of tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, especially in the early hours—a condition known as neuropathy.
The condition worsens over time and leads to more serious complications if a person does not get treatment for their diabetes.
What is the importance of early diagnosis?
Doctors say it is important to recognize early signs of type 2 diabetes, which can allow you to get a diagnosis and treatment sooner. Getting appropriate treatment, making lifestyle changes, and controlling blood sugar levels can improve your health and quality of life and reduce the risk of life-threatening complications.
Without treatment, persistently high blood sugar levels can lead to severe aftereffects, including:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Nerve damage
- Foot problems
- Kidney disease
- Eye disease or loss of vision
- Sexual dysfunction
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