More than 40 million Americans are living with diabetes, and around 11 million of them have not been diagnosed, according to the CDC's latest national statistics report. A further 115 million adults have prediabetes, and 8 in 10 have no idea they do.
Type 2 diabetes usually develops slowly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that some people notice no symptoms at all, while others mistake early signs for normal fatigue or aging.
Here are nine warning signs highlighted by the CDC and the American Diabetes Association.
Signs your body may flag
1. Urinating more than usual. When blood sugar runs high, the kidneys work overtime to flush the excess out through urine, according to the American Diabetes Association. Frequent bathroom trips, especially at night, are among the earliest signs.
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2. Feeling constantly thirsty. All that extra urination pulls fluid from the tissues, which drives thirst. It is one of the CDC's classic red flags for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
3. Unexpected weight loss. Losing pounds without changing diet or activity is a symptom the CDC lists alongside frequent urination and thirst. When cells cannot take up glucose properly, the body starts burning fat and muscle for energy.
4. Extreme fatigue. Cells starved of glucose leave you feeling drained. The ADA lists extreme fatigue among the core warning signs, and it is one of the most commonly brushed off as ordinary tiredness.
5. Blurry vision. High blood sugar can pull fluid into the lenses of the eyes and change their shape. Both the CDC and ADA list blurred vision as an early sign of type 2 diabetes, and it often improves once glucose comes under control.
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6. Cuts and sores that heal slowly. Elevated blood sugar interferes with circulation and the immune response, so wounds take longer to close. The CDC lists slow-healing cuts and sores as a symptom more common in type 2.
7. Dark, velvety patches of skin. Called acanthosis nigricans, these patches typically appear in body folds around the neck, armpits or groin. The CDC describes it as a sign of insulin resistance, meaning the body's cells respond less effectively to insulin, that can point to prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.
8. Tingling or numbness in the hands and feet. Persistently high blood sugar damages small nerves, a condition known as diabetic neuropathy. Both the CDC and ADA list tingling, numbness or pain in the extremities among type 2 warning signs.
9. Infections that keep coming back. Diabetes weakens the immune response. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases lists frequent infections, including urinary tract, skin and yeast infections, among the symptoms of diabetes.
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Why early detection matters
The CDC's National Diabetes Prevention Program says that people who make certain lifestyle changes, losing modest amounts of weight and becoming more physically active, can cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes roughly in half.
If you notice several of these signs, talk to a healthcare provider about a simple blood test.
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This article is made and published by Jesper Bengtson, who may have used AI in the preparation.