DOCTOR REVEALS 5 LESSER-KNOWN DIABETES SYMPTOMS, INCLUDING 3 SKIN CHANGES
It's winter and the time to party - indulge more in food and drinks, which makes it easy to overlook many changes in your body when it comes to your health. So, if your blood sugar levels are on the higher side, many times you would not even notice. Hence, to make you stay aware through these colder months, a UK-based doctor has highlighted the lesser-known indicators of diabetes that you must not ignore, especially in the lead-up to the holiday season.
According to experts, type 2 diabetes is often linked to lifestyle factors like diet, obesity, and lack of physical activity. “It is important to pay attention to changes in your body, and so, checking in with a healthcare professional can make a real difference to your long-term health,” Dr Bhavini Shah told Surrey Live.
Lesser-known type 2 diabetes symptoms you need to be aware of Related News |
Dr Shah has listed out a few lesser-known symptoms of diabetes, which you need to note:Skin and yeast infections
Your skin can be the first casualty of high blood sugar levels, which weaken your immune system and immunity levels. “It reduces your body’s ability to fight off infections, leaving individuals more vulnerable to skin infections, which are more common when immune defences are compromised,” said Dr Shah. Related News |Across both men and women, regular yeast infections can also be telltale signs of diabetes. Experts say high blood glucose impairs your body's immune system, making it less effective at fighting off infections. Diabetes also makes your skin more susceptible to infections, especially in skin folds where moisture can get trapped, creating a breeding ground for fungal and bacterial growth.
Dark patches
“While it can be caused by a variety of underlying conditions, dark patches of skin around your neck, groin, or armpits can be caused by type 2 diabetes,” said Dr Shah. Also known as acanthosis nigricans, these dark patches are harmless, but it is always best to get any skin changes checked out by the doctor.According to Dr Shah, these dark patches are a sign of insulin resistance, where your body produces too much insulin, making your skin reproduce too quickly.
Sexual dysfunction
Diabetes causes sexual dysfunction in both men and women as the condition impacts your nerves and blood flow. In men, blood vessel damage leads to erectile dysfunction, while women experience difficulty becoming aroused and vaginal dryness.Slow-healing cuts and injuries
If your blood sugar levels remain high for a long time, whatever cuts and injuries you have become slow in their healing, even though they are not the only or most common symptom. According to Dr Shah, it happens when consistently high blood sugar damages blood vessels and nerves, which impairs circulation and reduces the supply of oxygen and nutrients needed for healing. This leads to wounds that take a long time to heal and increase the risk of infection.Excessive tiredness and fatigue
Feeling excessively tired is an indicator of type 2 diabetes, which happens when high blood sugar levels prevent glucose from being efficiently converted into energy for your cells. Other common early symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urination, and blurred vision.Experts say when your body is not able to use insulin properly, glucose stays in the bloodstream instead of entering your cells for energy. This lack of cellular energy can make you feel exhausted, and high blood glucose can lead to dehydration, which also worsens fatigue.
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2025-11-30T06:31:26Z