Diabetes can show up in your body in many different ways. Learn how to
spot the signals that indicate your glucose levels are out of sorts—and what to do when you experience them.
Not every case of type 2 diabetes presents the obvious symptoms—unquenchable thirst, nonstop bathroom trips, and numbness in your hands or feet. But the longer you let your blood sugar levels spin out of control, the greater your risk of developing diabetes-related complications like cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, and hearing or vision impairment. Look out for these other subtle signs that something may be amiss with your blood sugar.
1. YOU’VE NOTICED UNPLEASANT SKIN CHANGES
Dark, velvety patches in the folds of skin, usually on the back of the neck, elbows, or knuckles, are often an early warning sign of too-high blood sugar levels. Although genetics or hormonal conditions can cause the skin disorder, called acanthosis nigricans, “when I notice the patches, the first thing I do is test my patient’s blood sugar,” says Sanjiv Saini, M.D., a dermatologist in Edgewater, Maryland. “High insulin levels promote the growth of skin cells, and melanin, a pigment in these cells, makes the patches dark.” Losing weight—even just 10 pounds—will likely lower blood sugar levels and help the condition clear up. Otherwise, he says a dermatologist can treat it with laser therapy or a topical retinoid.
2. YOUR VISION IMPROVED OUT OF NOWHERE
Sorry, suddenly being able to ditch your glasses might not be good news: “You’ll often read that blurry vision is a diabetes symptom when, in fact, vision can change for better or worse,” says Howard Baum, M.D., an associate professor of medicine in the diabetes division at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “I’ve had patients tell me that their vision has improved when their blood sugars were elevated, and then after they start treating their diabetes, they needed their glasses again.” What gives? Diabetes causes fluid levels in the body to shift around, including inside your eyes, which leads to the erratic eyesight. Getting your blood sugar back under control should get your eyesight back to normal, but letting it remain unchecked could lead to permanent damage.
3. YOU HAVE UNRELENTING ITCHINESS
Think it’s silly to mention scratchy skin to your doctor? Not so. Diabetes impairs blood circulation, which can lead to dryness and itchiness. If left untreated, the poor circulation could lead to worse problems, like an increased risk of infection to cuts and blisters on your legs and feet (that in the most severe cases could even lead to amputation). If regular use of a moisturizer doesn’t fix the itch, bring it up at your next appointment.
4. YOU HAVE HEARING LOSS
If you find yourself cranking the volume on the TV or if you can’t get through a conversation without asking people to repeat themselves, tell your doctor you need a blood sugar test. Researchers believe that diabetes damages the blood vessels and nerves of the inner ear, leading to subpar hearing.
5. YOU SNORE LOUDLY
“About half of type 2 diabetics have sleep-disordered breathing,” says Osama Hamdy, M.D., Ph.D., director of inpatient diabetes management at Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. So if you’re diagnosed with SDB—characterized by loud snoring and daytime sleepiness—it’s a good bet that your blood sugar levels are out of control. The connection isn’t fully understood, but there’s one key link: Patients with SDB tend to release stress hormones during sleep, which can raise blood sugar levels. Besides general fatigue, risk factors of sleep apnea, a form of SDB, include heart disease, weight gain, and even death. Sleep apnea is treatable—and diabetes-friendly lifestyle changes like getting active, eating healthy, losing weight, and stopping smoking can help.