The key facts

  • Diabetes can develop long before thirst, frequent urination and fatigue appear
  • The doctor named visceral fat, glucose 'roller coasters', skin changes and apnea among the hidden signs
  • Women's symptoms were highlighted separately: PCOS, menstrual irregularities, acne, recurring thrush

Hidden signals that are easy to miss

Diabetes can develop long before the familiar symptoms appear — intense thirst, frequent urination and constant fatigue. About the less obvious signs worth paying attention to, physician of classical and Chinese medicine Irina Starkova told Gazeta.Ru.

Belly, drowsiness and skin

As the first signal, Starkova named an enlarging belly even at a normal weight: visceral fat can accumulate around internal organs even in slim people, so she advises watching not only the scales but also waist circumference. The second sign is severe drowsiness and a drop in energy after eating, followed 2–4 hours later by shakiness, irritability and an intense craving for sweets: this, according to the doctor, is how glucose 'roller coasters' manifest. A single such episode means nothing, but regular repeats are a reason to check carbohydrate metabolism.

Skin, women's symptoms and sleep

When it comes to the skin, the expert believes, multiple papillomas should raise concern, as well as velvety, slightly darker patches on the neck, in the armpits, elbows and under the breasts — they appear with excess insulin and are especially significant in people of normal weight. Also on this list are persistent fungal infections, itching without cause, wounds that heal slowly and a tendency to boils. In women, important markers are polycystic ovary syndrome, menstrual irregularities, coarse facial hair, acne and recurring thrush. At night, two or more trips to the toilet, cramps in the feet and calves, restless sleep and loud snoring with breathing pauses may signal risk: apnea and insulin resistance reinforce each other, so snoring, according to Starkova, should be investigated rather than endured.

Vision, legs and oral cavity

Among the lesser-known signals, the doctor listed 'fluctuating' visual acuity, when glasses are needed one day and not the next — this is often linked to glucose swings. Burning, tingling and 'cottony' feet at night are symptoms of small nerve fiber damage that can begin as early as prediabetes. The list is rounded out by dry mouth, a sweetish or metallic taste without cause, bleeding gums and periodontitis.