Diabetes is one of the sneakiest diseases of our time. 1 in 3 people with type 2 diabetes is unaware of having it and may unwillingly ignore thy symptoms for as long as months or even years. And, even if people do notice the early signs, the awareness is low, that they won’t realize what these symptoms mean for their health.

This fact makes diabetes extremely dangerous. Every delay in diagnosis and treatment increases the chance of increased suffering – for example, a delay of just 3 years increases the risk of a heart disease by 29%.

And if early detected, the prognosis can be much more optimistic and the negative impact of diabetes on long-term health can be much lower. This is why it is important to do everything to control potential diabetes before it starts to control you.

From the medical point of view, diabetes is used to name a situation in which glucose (blood sugar) levels are elevated for a much longer time than usual. This is typically true both for children as well as adults. There are two different diabetes types, which differ primarily in the development time of the disease.

In type 1 diabetes, the symptoms develop most of the time very quickly, with the condition being found out in an emergency setting. On the other hand, in type 2 diabetes the progress of the disease is quite slow and symptoms can build up gradually. As said before, some don’t even notice the early symptoms until it can be too late.

The early signs of diabetes vary and are as listed below:

1. One of the most prevalent symptoms is increased urination

The average person goes to the bathroom 4 to 7 times throughout a day. If you noticed you need to go way more often than that, you may suffer from Polyuria, a common condition which is one of the symptoms of diabetes. If you wake up in the middle of the night to go to the toilet, even if you went there just before going to bed, this could be another warning that you might have an elevated level of blood sugar.

2. Constant thirst is another common early sign of diabetes

An average recommended water intake for an adult is one half gallon per day. If your intake exceeds that and averages twice that amount and more, and if you begin to feel thirsty right after you drink water or any other drink, you should definitely check yourself for diabetes. In fact, #1 and #2 are related as if you keep drinking, it’s quite obvious you’ll have to urinate more.

3. Continuous hunger (even right after a meal)

A sign similar to the last one, but this time, it’s all about hunger. If you feel empty even right after having a decent meal, this may be a symptom of blood sugar problems. Your brain may incorrectly keep sending you signals that you should eat, even if you have just eaten, what will make you feel constantly hungry.

4. Rapid and unexpected weight loss

Even if you eat a lot, if you suffer from diabetes you may rapidly lose weight, in amounts not adequate for a standard process of weight losing and gaining – usually between 11 to 22 lbs in a short time frame (a few weeks or a month or two). This is more common sign of type 1 diabetes, in which the metabolism of sugar can be shut down in a short time.

5. Skin problems including dry or itchy skin

Irritated, overly itchy or dry skin can be a sign of hormonal problems and elevated sugar level. Sometimes, the skin gets not only dry but also darkens, especially around the neck or armpits. This is known as Acanthosis Nigricans.

6. Eyesight problems – blurred or distorted vision

Experienced ‘eye floaters’ or blurred and distorted vision are common symptoms of developing diabetes. Luckily, because this problem is related to high blood sugar levels, once they are corrected it is usually reversed and the vision goes back to normal.

7. Numbness or tingling (known also as pins and needles) present in hands or feet

If your limbs get numb or tingling (especially hands or feet), most commonly right after you wake up (you may feel a burning sensation) this can be an early sign of your diabetes.

8. Wounds and cuts take a long time to heal

If your blood sugar level is high, even a small cut or bruise can take a long time to heal – especially if they have appeared on body parts further from the heart such as your feet or hands.

9. If you keep feeling tired or weak you may suffer from diabetes.

Because sugar in your blood can elevate or decrease your mood and the feeling of fatigue, unmanaged diabetes can make you feel lousy, tired and, in fact, lazy very easily. Sometimes this sign is so strong that it makes you too weak to even take care of your regular everyday activities.

Now think for a minute and check – can you notice any of the listed symptoms?

Visit your doctor if you believe you have any of the above symptoms and immediately do a test to determine your blood sugar level. The most basic one is a non-invasive finger prick test just to get an overall idea of your condition. If diagnosed early, these symptoms may be stopped from turning into more harmful and permanent.