With diabetes, your body is unable to maintain a healthy balance between insulin produced in the pancreas and sugar formed by the breakdown of carbohydrates. With type 1 diabetes, your body stops producing insulin. With type 2 diabetes, your body is insulin resistant, unable to use insulin properly or it does not produce enough insulin. Left untreated, diabetes creates life-threatening conditions. The University of Michigan Health System reminds people that early detection of diabetes decreases the chances of developing complications.
Thirst and Urination
As excess sugar builds up in your bloodstream, fluids are pulled from your tissues, making you thirsty. This thirst causes you to drink more liquids, which leads to more frequent urination.
Hunger and Weight Loss
Diabetes may keep sugar from reaching your cells, which leads to constant hunger. Even with eating more than usual, you may lose weight, especially with type 1 diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Low Energy
When your body doesn't produce enough insulin or doesn't manage it well, your muscles and organs suffer from an inadequate amount of sugar. This may cause low energy levels, fatigue and irritability.
Blurred Vision
High blood sugar may cause fluids to be pulled from your eyes. As fluids move away from the lenses, your vision becomes blurry vision and you have difficulty focusing.
Infections
Diabetes compromises your body's ability to heal. Infections, sores and abrasions may be slow to heal or occur more frequently than usual.
Acanthosis Nigricans
Darkened areas of skin, called acanthosis nigricans, may appear on the neck, armpits, knuckles, knees and elbows. The Mayo Clinic reminds people that acanthosis nigricans is one of the few noticeable signs of prediabetes
