10 Unusual Symptoms of Diabetes

Besides the typical symptoms—such as a frequent urge to urinate and constant thirst—here are less obvious first signs of diabetes.

You may know some of the most common symptoms of diabetes, such as excess thirst, increased urination, and weight gain. In contrast, you might not expect unusual symptoms of diabetes, like gum disease and hearing changes.

It's important to know what unusual symptoms might be the first signs of diabetes. Early diagnosis means you can start managing your diabetes sooner rather than later, which reduces complications. Read on to learn about some unusual early symptoms of diabetes and when to see a healthcare provider.

Dental exam

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1. Periodontitis

Periodontitis is a severe form of gum disease in which your gums pull away from the teeth.  Periodontitis is more common and severe in people with diabetes than others. The gum disease typically progresses quickly in people with diabetes.  

The link between diabetes and periodontitis appears to be a two-way street. Diabetes may worsen periodontitis. Likewise, periodontitis is a risk factor for high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), a defining factor of diabetes. Research has linked periodontitis to high A1C levels, which measures your average blood sugar over the previous three months. 

Chronic inflammation is common with diabetes and periodontitis. People with both illnesses have higher inflammatory markers than others. Inflammation may damage the bones that support your teeth, which causes them to loosen or fall out.     

2. Skin Changes

Certain skin conditions might be some of the first signs of diabetes. For example, acanthosis nigricans is a velvety, dark, often thick patch on the skin.

Acanthosis nigricans commonly develops in the creases or folds of your skin, such as the:

  • Axilla (where your arm connects to your shoulder)
  • Back of your neck
  • Elbows
  • Feet
  • Groin
  • Hands
  • Knees

High insulin levels may cause acanthosis nigricans. Insulin is a hormone that helps move glucose (blood sugar) into your cells for energy. Your cells may resist the insulin. In response, your body produces more insulin. High insulin levels are a sign of insulin resistance, a precursor to prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes Skin Conditions

Other skin conditions that may be early symptoms of diabetes include: 

  • Diabetic blisters: These look like burn blisters and usually do not cause pain. Diabetes blisters can develop on your fingers, hands, toes, feet, and sometimes forearms. They are rare and typically clear up in a few weeks without scarring.  
  • Digital sclerosis: This causes thick skin patches that make your skin feel stiff. Digital sclerosis most commonly develops on the backs of your hands but may occur on the forehead, feet, and fingers. About one-third of people with type 1 diabetes have digital sclerosis.
  • Eruptive xanthomatosis: These are firm, yellow, and pea-like bumps with red halo and may itch. Eruptive xanthomatosis may appear on your feet, arms, buttocks, and backs of your hands. These bumps are common among males with type 1 diabetes.  
  • Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum: Blood vessel changes cause these large, deep, painful, and itchy sores. The sores start as a small, raised red lump that later appears like a shiny scar with a violet border. Although rare, females with diabetes may be likelier to develop these sores than others.

3. Frequent Infections

High blood sugar levels may create an environment for microbes to grow and weaken your immune response. As a result, you may have frequent bacterial or fungal infections.

Bacterial infections may affect your hair follicles and nails. Some people develop boils and styes (an infected bump on the eyelid). Staphylococcus (staph) infections are some of the most common bacterial infections. Fungal infections caused by Candida (a type of yeast) may occur. Common fungal infections include athlete's foot, jock itch, ringworm, and vaginal yeast infections.

The urinary tract is a common site for infections. Diabetes may affect your nerves to a degree where your bladder no longer empties.

4. Changes in Vision

High blood sugar may affect your vision changes. Excess sugar damages the small vessels in your eye and causes changes in fluid, affecting how clear your vision is. Some of the earliest vision changes might include blurry vision or trouble reading or seeing objects far away. Vision changes can worsen if untreated. You might see dark, floating spots or streaks.

5. Hearing Changes

Diabetes doubles your risk of hearing loss. Long-term high blood sugar may damage your inner ear's small blood vessels and nerves. `Long-term low blood sugar might damage how your inner ear sends nerve signals to your brain.

6. Bedwetting in Children

The onset of type 1 diabetes symptoms in children can be sudden and become a medical emergency if untreated. For example, potty-trained children who can sleep through the night without accidents may start wetting the bed several times per week. This situation is called nocturnal enuresis, which may be one of the first signs of type 1 diabetes.

Nocturnal enuresis is a typical symptom of type 1 diabetes in children. Still, it's not one that caregivers usually automatically connect to type 1 diabetes. Increased hunger and thirst, as well as weight loss, usually accompany increased urination.

7. Fruity Breath

Fruity breath is a common symptom of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a diabetes complication. Your risk of DKA increases if your body does not have enough insulin to move glucose into your cells. Without glucose, your liver instead breaks down fat for energy. 

That process releases ketones, an acid. Ketones increase the acidity of your blood, which may be life-threatening if untreated. Acetone is a ketone that causes fruity breath in people with DKA.

8. Changes in Mood

Some evidence suggests that sudden changes in your blood sugar levels, which may occur with diabetes, may cause mood changes. A review published in 2017 noted that post-meal blood sugar changes caused anxious and depressive moods in people with type 2 diabetes. The researchers found that post-meal blood sugar changes might affect cognition, including attention and focus.

9. Tingling or Numbness 

Diabetes might damage your nerves, known as diabetic neuropathy, causing tingling and numbness. Your nerves send messages to your body parts, telling them how to feel or move.

Diabetes may affect how your nerves send and receive those messages if it damages your nerves. For example, peripheral neuropathy typically causes tingling and numbness in your arms, hands, feet, fingers, or legs.

10. Weight and Hunger Changes

Weight gain is one of the most common risk factors for diabetes. Still, not all people with diabetes have overweight or obesity. Unexplained weight loss may be one of the first signs of high blood sugar. Weight loss may occur if your body lacks enough insulin to move glucose into your cells, causing your body to burn fat instead.

Hunger is one of the most common early symptoms of diabetes. A lack of glucose stores for your body to use as energy may increase your appetite.

When To Contact a Healthcare Provider

Contact a healthcare provider about testing for diabetes if you have symptoms. People with a high risk of diabetes might need regular tests even if they do not have symptoms. A healthcare provider might advise testing your gestational diabetes, a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy, if you are pregnant. Early diagnosis and treatment help manage diabetes symptoms and prevent complications.

Seek immediate medical attention if you have:

  • Chest pain or pressure
  • Fainting or unconsciousness
  • Feeling confused
  • Painful, red patches of skin that spread rapidly
  • Seizures
  • Trouble breathing or shortness of breath

Common Symptoms of Diabetes

It may take weeks to years for diabetes symptoms to develop, depending on the type you have. For example, type 1 diabetes symptoms generally appear in a few weeks or months. In contrast, type 2 diabetes symptoms might take several years to develop.

Some of the most common first signs and symptoms of diabetes include:

  • Extreme thirst
  • Increased urination
  • Sores that do not heal
  • Tingling and numbness in your hands and feet
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Vision changes (i.e., blurry vision)
  • Weakness

A Quick Review

Increased thirst, hunger, and urination are some of the most common diabetes symptoms. Many other, possibly unusual, symptoms may occur with diabetes, including gum disease, infections, and skin changes.

Visit a healthcare provider to figure out what's causing your symptoms, especially if you have a high diabetes risk. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for improving your quality of life and reducing the risk of complications.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

  • 1. What can be mistaken for diabetes?

    Several illnesses affect your pancreas, an organ that makes and secretes insulin, and may resemble diabetes, such as:

    • Acromegaly: This causes your body to secrete excess growth hormone, which supports your bones and muscles. Acromegaly may affect how your pancreas makes insulin.
    • Chronic pancreatitis: This long-term swelling of the pancreas causes damage.
    • Cushing syndrome: This happens if your adrenal glands, located on top of your kidneys, make too much cortisol (stress hormone). Cushing syndrome may affect your insulin levels.
    • Cystic fibrosis (CF): People with CF produce thick, sticky mucus that builds up in and damages different body parts. CF may cause mucus build-up in the pancreas, keeping it from making and secreting insulin.
    • Hereditary hemochromatosis: Excess iron in the blood causes this illness. You might develop diabetes-like symptoms, such as fatigue and weight loss.
    • Pancreatic cancer: This starts in cells in your pancreas that make juices that break down your food. Diabetes is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer.
    • Pheochromocytoma: This rare disease starts in your adrenal glands and may affect your insulin levels.
    • Thyroid disorders: Your thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, may produce too many or too few thyroid hormones. Those hormones affect your digestion, mood, and weight.

    Insulin resistance might result from using certain drugs, causing diabetes-like symptoms. Drug-induced insulin resistance is most common with estrogen, glucocorticoids, and phenytoin.

  • 2. What are the red flags for type 2 diabetes?

    It may be hard to tell whether you have type 2 diabetes. Some people do not have any early symptoms. Eye, kidney, or nerve damage may be some of the first signs of type 2 diabetes.

    Look out for red flags of type 2 diabetes, such as:

    • Blurry vision
    • Excess hunger and thirst
    • Increased urination
    • Infections (e.g., bladder, kidney, or skin infections) that frequently occur or take a long time to heal
    • Weakness
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