This Is the Early Type 2 Diabetes Sign That’s Missed the Most Often, According to an Endocrinologist
Type 2 diabetes is incredibly common: More than 37 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, according to the CDC, and between 90 and 95 percent of those cases are Type 2. Because there is currently no cure for Type 2 diabetes—this can only be managed—it's important to catch it early to seek proper treatment and stop it from getting worse.
Unfortunately, Type 2 diabetes doesn't always have any obvious signs, so seeing your doctor for regular blood glucose testing can help you get a full picture of your blood sugar, which is key for diabetes prevention.
With that in mind, this is the most commonly missed early warning sign of Type 2 diabetes—and other signs to look out for.
The Most Commonly Missed Early Warning Sign of Type 2 Diabetes
According to Dr. Vinita Tandon, MD, a board-certified endocrinologist and Lifeforce Medical Director, because fatigue can be caused by a number of conditions or even just a few nights of poor sleep, it's not always recognized as a warning sign of diabetes.
"When people have elevated blood sugars due to pre-diabetes or diabetes, it means that the glucose is not being utilized by the cells and results in fatigue," she says. "Instead of muscles and brain cells receiving the energy from glucose, the glucose remains unutilized in the bloodstream."
Related: Can the DASH Diet Help With Insulin Resistance?
Other Warning Signs of Type 2 Diabetes
Fatigue isn't the only warning sign of Type 2 diabetes, though. According to Dr. Tandon, slower wound healing and recurrent infections can also be a sign of diabetes. "When blood sugars are chronically elevated, this damages vascular integrity, circulation and tissue health," she says. "This can lead to prolonged wound healing whereby even minor cuts and abrasions take much longer to heal."
As for recurrent infections, this happens because the immune system is weakened by high levels of blood sugar and is less likely to fight off an infection successfully. "This makes people that are pre-diabetic more susceptible to recurring infections including viral and bacterial infections."
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Another thing to watch out for is the darkening of the skin on the underarm or on the back of the neck. "This is a sign of insulin resistance that will manifest in Type 2 diabetics," Dr. Tandon says. Type 2 diabetes can also cause unexplained weight loss, numbness or tingling in the hands and feet due to poor circulation and peripheral nerve damage, frequent urination and excessive thirst.
"When the body does not produce enough insulin and glucose build up in the bloodstream, a physiological response to remove excess glucose is triggered and this leads to more frequent urination," Dr. Tandon says, noting that being hungrier than usual is another sign. "Hormone disruption in prediabetic patients leads to a persistent hunger signal," she says.
Related: 8 Facts About Diabetes You Probably Didn't Know
How To Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
Ideally, Type 2 diabetes can be prevented before it starts. That's why Dr. Tandon emphasizes the importance of seeing your doctor for regular personalized testing, especially if you have a history of diabetes in your family or are prediabetic.
"Regular blood glucose testing on biomarkers such as HbA1c [hemoglobin A1C] can provide insights from data points about what is happening in our bodies," she says. "This allows us to take preventative measures according to each person’s unique needs."
Dr. Tandon explains there are certain pharmaceuticals and supplements available that improve insulin sensitivity like metformin or nutraceuticals can help regulate your blood glucose levels. Additionally, there is some evidence that fish oil supplementation can help improve insulin resistance.
Making lifestyle tweaks can help too. "Adhering to a lower-carb diet with healthy fats and protein, avoiding processed foods, maintaining a healthy weight and remaining active are all steps everyone can take," Dr. Tandon says.
Next up: 13 Foods That Help With Diabetes
Sources
Type 2 Diabetes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed 6/13/2023
Dr. Vinita Tandon, MD, a board-certified endocrinologist and Lifeforce Medical Director