Diabetes is a metabolic disease which is characterized by a rise in blood sugar level.
As it gets chronic it causes serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that about 422 million people worldwide have diabetes and adds that in the past 3 decades the prevalence of type 2 diabetes has risen dramatically in countries of all income levels.
As per the WHO report, between 2000 and 2019, there was a 3% increase in diabetes mortality rates by age and in 2019 alone an estimated 2 million deaths were caused due to diabetes.
Recognition of symptoms is essential to manage diabetes
It is very important to take note of diabetes symptoms in order to get timely medical help. While type 2 diabetes is the most prevalent one, most of the cases of this form of diabetes is due to physical inactivity and excess body weight.
The symptoms of diabetes are mostly silent and are so subtle that often people mistake it for something else.
In view of your lifestyle habits, you should always pay attention to any sort of abnormality that occurs in your body.
One of the most unusual and remotely associated symptoms of diabetes is darkness around the neck region.
This abnormality in neck skin mostly looks like dark and thick patches of skin mostly present in the creases of skin. The skin around the neck will feel different and sometimes velvety.
Medically, this is known as acanthosis nigricans.
2. Repeated infections
Another telltale sign of diabetes is recurrent infection. Diabetes compromises the immune system of the body and makes it prone to infections easily.
A diabetic patient is more prone to vaginal infection, yeast infections, infections of bladder and skin infections mostly.
If you have been getting infections of late, do get your blood tested.
3. Changes in vision
Frequent and massive change in vision can be one of the biggest indicators of diabetes. Those already having vision issues might not find it weird, but if your vision changes at a faster pace do get your blood sugar level checked.
Not just vision issues, several other complications can occur due to diabetes. It can make your eyes dry, or can make your vision blurry.
4. Sexual dysfunction
Due to high blood sugar levels, the blood vessels that carry blood to the penis are damaged. In women, diabetes reduces lubrication and sexual arousal.
If you are in the sexually active age and have been noticing changes in your sexual activity pattern, do consult your doctor and get your blood sugar level tested.
5. Low mood
Irritability and low moods are associated with diabetes. A change in mood is visible during low blood glucose and high blood glucose levels.
This can make you irritable, confused and sometimes you will not be you. If you feel a change in your habit or if someone else points it out to you, act on it constructively.
6. Weight loss
Unexplained weight loss can be related to several diseases. However, if you have diabetes running in your family, then it is highly advisable to get your blood glucose level checked if you notice a sharp decline in weight.
In diabetes, the body cells do not get glucose for energy as a result of which they burn your fat and muscle mass, which leads to drop in weight.
7. Itching and peeling off skin
Due to diabetes the blood vessels are damaged as a result of which blood circulation to various limbs are restricted.
This may lead to drying out of skin eventually leading to itching and peeling off.
