According to the doctor, thousands of people mistake the warning signs of diabetes for harmless skin diseases.
Diabetes is often called the silent killer because the symptoms it causes do not necessarily cause you to feel unwell, making it difficult to identify the disease.
Although everyday skin problems such as itching or cuts can be caused, the doctor said by simply scratching or applying a band-aid, they can also be warning signs of diabetes.
“Chances are that your itchy skin is caused by dryness, that tingling feeling is due to you sitting in an odd position, and a cut that won't heal is caused by it being covered with a band-aid for too long. However, this may not be the case,” says endocrinologist Antonina Gureeva exclusively for MedicForum.
Fortunately, the doctor shared how to recognize these lesser-known signs of blood sugar levels.
“The likelihood is that your itchy skin is caused by dryness, that tingling feeling is due to sitting in an odd position, and a cut that won't heal is caused by being covered with a band-aid for too long. However, this may not be the case,” explains Gureeva.
Luckily, a doctor shared how to recognize these lesser-known signs of blood sugar.
1. Dry, itchy skin
Chronic high blood sugar levels affect circulation by damaging the lining of small blood vessels, making circulation difficult.
“Poor circulation can cause dry, itchy skin, and the cause is quite could be diabetes.”
Additionally, Dr. Narayanan recommended being on the lookout for abnormal sensations such as itching that is difficult to detect and does not go away, as it may be due to nerve damage due to chronic diabetes.
2. Tingling or numbness in your arms, legs, or feet
Over time, poor circulation and changes in how your cells receive oxygen and nutrients can cause nerve damage.
“This blocks sending and receiving signals from the brain to and from various parts of the body, causing numbness or a tingling sensation.”
Alarmingly, early diagnosis of the problem is “vitally important” because once nerves are damaged they cannot repair themselves, a doctor has warned.
3. Cuts that won't heal
Damaged blood vessels can also cause wounds to heal slowly and increase the risk of infection.
Although non-healing cuts are a discomfort, the doctor warned that the “most worrisome” are foot ulcers.
“Non-healing ulcers are the leading cause of diabetes-related amputations.”
Diabetic foot ulcers precede more than 80 percent of amputations.
Although these problems are just three, lesser-known symptoms of diabetes, there are many more hidden signs.
Fortunately, one simple diagnostic blood test, either from your GP or as a finger prick test done at home, can detect the disease before any symptoms appear.
The doctor's advice on the signs of diabetes comes after the latest analysis from the London Medical Laboratory revealed one million people in the UK are likely to have undiagnosed diabetes.
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Important! Information is provided for reference purposes. Ask a specialist about contraindications and side effects and under no circumstances self-medicate. At the first signs of illness, consult a doctor.