Most people know the common signs of diabetes. They are the 4Ts: Toilet, Thirsty, Tired, and Thinner.
The Four Ts of Diabetes
The four Ts of diabetes refer to frequent urination, excessive thirst, extreme fatigue, and unexplained weight loss.
However, there are less commonly known signs such as
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing sores and infections
- Tingling or numbness in the hands and feet
- Frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs) from high blood sugars, which create breeding grounds for bacteria and yeast
- A neck hump, also known as a “buffalo hump,” may indicate insulin resistance, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes.
- Constantly feeling hungry, even after eating. Polyphagia is the name for this condition. When blood sugar cannot enter cells due to a lack of insulin or insulin resistance, your brain will make you feel hungry to get the sugar it needs for energy. Learn more about polyphagia’s causes and management: https://backtonaturediabetic.com/if-my-blood-sugar-is-high-why-am-i-so-hungry/
Warning Signs on the Skin
Many warning signs can appear on your skin, such as
- A dark patch of velvety skin on your neck, armpit, or groin, called acanthosis nigricans
- Shin spots, which are spots on the legs
- Skin tags
- Itchy skin. Frequent urination causes fluid loss, which leads to dry skin. Diabetes-related itching can also stem from poor circulation or nerve damage.
- Yellowish, smooth bumps or patches on and around your eyelids
- Dry mouth
- Headaches, referred to as “diabetes headaches” because of unstable blood sugar levels
- Shiny, hairless skin on the lower legs because of circulation or nerve damage
- Your urine might smell sweet if your blood sugar is high or like nail polish remover if you have ketoacidosis
Undiagnosed Diabetes
It’s important to be aware of the warning signs because approximately 27.6% of U.S. adults, equaling 11 million adults, have diabetes and are undiagnosed, according to the CDC’s 2026 report. Researchers also estimate that 115.2 million U.S. adults have prediabetes.
Globally, about 250 million people are unaware they have diabetes, based on IDF research (International Diabetes Federation). Therefore, early awareness and detection are important.
Conclusion
If you have these risk factors along with a BMI over 25, are inactive, or have a family history of diabetes, ask your doctor for a blood sugar test.
Quote
“By 2050, 1.3 billion people are expected to be living with diabetes, and if nearly half don’t know they have a serious and potentially deadly health condition, it could easily become a silent epidemic.” Lauryn Stafford (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation Researcher)