Diabetes symptoms: Diabetes is a chronic disease that must be controlled on a daily basis. High blood sugar levels are commonly associated with increased thirst, the need to pee frequently, fatigue, blurred vision, and accidental weight loss.
Furthermore, uncontrolled blood sugar levels can cause damage to the body’s tiny blood arteries, making it difficult for blood to reach the organs. This, in turn, has the potential to be fatal. Having said that, one must be on the lookout for symptoms that may appear in various places of the body.
Eyes
High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels in the retina, causing vision disorders such as blur, cataracts, glaucoma, and, most concerning, diabetic retinopathy. Retinopathy is characterised by abnormalities in the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. It can lead to visual loss and blindness in diabetics if left unchecked.
Feet
Diabetes can impact your foot in two ways. The first is due to nerve injury, which prevents your foot from feeling anything. Second, you may have poor blood circulation in your feet, which makes any infection difficult to heal. If the sores or infection are not treated, they can lead to amputation.
Nerves
High blood sugar, like diabetes retinopathy and nephropathy, can cause nerve damage known as diabetic neuropathy. Symptoms of the disorder include numbness or decreased capacity to feel pain or warmth, tingling or burning sensations, intense pains and cramps, excessive sensitivity to touch, severe foot ulcers, infections, and more.
Heart and blood vessels
Because high blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels, diabetics are constantly at a higher risk of cardiovascular problems such as stroke and heart disease. Furthermore, those with diabetes are more likely to have other illnesses that increase the risk of heart disease, such as high blood pressure, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Gum
Gum disease, commonly known as periodontal disease, is a common ailment associated with high blood sugar levels. Furthermore, excessive blood sugar levels can encourage the growth of bacteria that causes gum disease. Gums that are bleeding, sensitive, and painful are symptoms.