{"id":14383,"date":"2021-12-17T09:45:44","date_gmt":"2021-12-17T15:45:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=14383"},"modified":"2026-04-16T11:54:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T16:54:46","slug":"dont-ignore-the-signs-of-diabetes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/dont-ignore-the-signs-of-diabetes\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t ignore the early signs of diabetes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Preventing diabetes means acting early and knowing the signs to look for before it turns into a serious problem.<\/p>\n

What is diabetes?<\/h2>\n

Diabetes is a long-term health condition<\/a> that affects how your body turns food into energy.<\/p>\n

\u201cDiabetes is a disruption in the way your body uses insulin,\u201d said Tina Canada, RN, a certified diabetes educator at OSF HealthCare.<\/p>\n

Food is broken down into sugar and released into the bloodstream, which signals the pancreas to release insulin. There are two types of diabetes one where a person with diabetes doesn\u2019t create enough insulin called Type 1 and another where your body doesn\u2019t respond like it is supposed to with insulin called Type 2. Both can leave too much sugar in the bloodstream.<\/p>\n

Signs of diabetes<\/h2>\n

\u201cThe typical symptoms of diabetes are really easy to ignore,\u201d Tina said.<\/p>\n

\"Early<\/a><\/p>\n

In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five people with diabetes doesn\u2019t even know they have it.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t miss something important. Look out for the symptoms of diabetes.<\/p>\n

Frequent urination<\/h3>\n

Frequent urination is one of the key indicators of diabetes. When there is too much sugar in the blood, your kidneys are forced to work harder to get rid of the excess sugar. The kidneys produce more urine to get the extra sugar out of the body. Thus, needing to use the bathroom a lot can be the first indication of diabetes.<\/p>\n

Dry mouth and excessive thirst<\/h3>\n

Dry mouth and excessive thirst go hand in hand with frequent urination. You might think, \u201cIt\u2019s hot,\u201d or \u201cI just haven\u2019t had enough water today.\u201d That\u2019s a normal part of life. But if it\u2019s a constant thirst or combined with the need to urinate frequently, it might be your body\u2019s way of saying that you\u2019re not producing enough insulin.<\/p>\n

Dry skin<\/h3>\n

With diabetes, skin moisture can be hard to balance. If you notice your skin is dried out, especially your feet<\/a>, look out for other symptoms of diabetes.<\/p>\n

Slow-healing wounds<\/h3>\n
\n

Experiencing any of these symptoms?<\/p>\n

> Contact your physician<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The higher blood sugar content in a person with diabetes can interfere with the body\u2019s ability to heal wounds<\/a>. This can be especially dangerous if you have undiagnosed diabetes, as diabetes can cause nerve damage. With damaged nerves, it\u2019s harder to feel when an affected area of the body has a cut, scrape or blister. Since it\u2019s harder to know when you have a wound, you\u2019re much more likely to develop an infection.<\/p>\n

Blurry vision or eye difficulties<\/h3>\n

Some people notice a problem with their vision, so they go to the eye doctor. After an eye exam, they learn it isn\u2019t an eye problem at all. Blurriness, vision loss or seeing dark spots can indicate diabetes.<\/p>\n

Losing weight<\/h3>\n

Sudden weight loss, especially when you\u2019re not trying to lose weight, is often an indication that something isn\u2019t quite right. It could be nothing, but it could be an early sign of diabetes.<\/p>\n

Signs of diabetes in women and men<\/h2>\n

\u201cSigns of diabetes in men and women tend to be pretty similar,\u201d Tina said.<\/p>\n

While many men and women have the same signs \u2013 like those listed above \u2013 there are a few signs that may be different in men and women.<\/p>\n

Women with diabetes are more likely to experience vaginal yeast infections and urinary tract infections. Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome are also more likely to have diabetes.<\/p>\n

Men with diabetes that goes untreated are more likely to experience a loss of muscle mass.<\/p>\n

Diabetes risk factors and prediabetes<\/h2>\n

Certain factors put a person at a higher risk of developing diabetes, including:<\/p>\n