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Early onset diabetes and its symptoms
Published on March 15, 2021
By Doctor L Sanjay, Department of Internal Medicine at Apollo Spectra Hospital Kondapur Hyderabad
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin. Such a medical condition causes the body to lose its ability to produce enough insulin, preventing glucose from reaching the cells that are supposed to be used for energy. The early onset of diabetes can lead to high levels of sugar in the blood, which increases the risk of many health complications such as nerve damage, eye problems, kidney disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems.
There are three main types of diabetes like type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. Each type is different from the other and affects different age groups. Type 1 usually occurs in children, while type 2 is common in adults and has a strong association with obesity. Gestational diabetes is also a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy when the body is less sensitive to insulin.
The early onset of diabetes can be asymptomatic and patients do not feel the need to seek medical advice until the disease progresses.
Here are some early signs to look out for in order to understand the early onset of diabetes:
● Frequent urination – Also known as Polyuria is one of the most common early warning symptoms of diabetes. Excessive or frequent urination can indicate that the blood sugar level in the body is high. To get rid of the excess sugar content, the kidneys squeeze the sugar so that it flows out with the urine and urinates frequently.
● Extreme thirst – Extreme thirst is one of the main symptoms of diabetes and refers to a condition in which drinking plenty of water does not quench thirst. High blood sugar levels cause the muscles and tissues in our body to become dehydrated. The body tries to draw fluids from other tissues to thin blood sugar levels. This causes a person to feel thirsty and drink more water.
● Increased hunger – Also known as Polyphagia is another symptom of diabetes. You will also feel hungry after consuming sufficient amounts of food because the tissues cannot get enough energy from the food signals for early onset diabetes. When the body doesn’t make enough insulin, the sugars from food may not be able to get into tissues to provide energy, leading to extreme hunger.
● Itchy skin – Excessive sugar level in the blood leads to itching of the skin and skin infections. Damp skin areas such as armpits, mouth and genitals feel itchy. In addition, dark spots on the skin in areas such as the neck and armpit can be another potential symptom of diabetes.
● Slow healing of cuts and wounds – Diabetes can narrow the blood vessels in the body, affecting blood flow, and restricting the passage of necessary nutrients and oxygen. This leads to a weak immune system, which causes the cuts and wounds to heal more slowly than expected. This can also lead to skin infections at a later stage.
If we consider making some lifestyle changes in our daily routine, diabetes can be well controlled and treated. Eating a lot of fiber and being physically fit every day can prevent serious health complications in the long run. It is also always recommended to consult a medical expert once a month to monitor blood sugar levels in our bodies.
