Diabetes symptoms: Three ‘unusual’ signs of high blood sugar in your body – and what to do

Type 2 diabetes can be a 'devastating diagnosis' says expert

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Diabetes is a very common condition that affects around five million people in the UK. If you have diabetes symptoms, you should speak to a doctor straight away. But how are you supposed to know if you’re at risk of the condition?

Diabetes is a condition that describes the body not producing enough insulin; a hormone that’s made in the pancreas.

Insulin helps the body to convert sugar in the blood into energy.

If you aren’t getting enough insulin, or the body isn’t reacting to the hormone, you may develop a number of tell-tale symptoms.

But these symptoms can go years without being noticed because they could easily be mistaken for something less serious. These are some of the most “unusual” signs of diabetes in the body, according to medical website Healthline.

Dark skin patches

Some diabetes patients may develop large patches of darkened skin – particularly around the neck.

These patches, which is known as acanthosis nigricans, can develop across the entire body, or in certain areas.

You’re most likely to find these patches in the folds of the skin, including the armpits or groin.

The skin may also feel velvety to the touch, and is caused by high levels of insulin in the blood instigating the fast reproduction of cells.

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Pain in the limbs

A subtle pain in the arms or the legs could be caused by diabetes, warned the medical website.

This pain may feel like a dull ache, or it could be unusually tingly.

It’s caused by a condition known as diabetic neuropathy, which describes the nerve damage linked to high blood sugar levels.

Simply having persistent pins and needles could also be linked to diabetes.

Itching

Diabetes symptoms include an itchiness that won’t go away, no matter how much you scratch.

It’s linked to never fibre damage throughout the body, and is usually most noticeable on the hands or feet.

Your itchiness could also be caused by damage to the blood vessels.

The damage can reduce blood circulation to the extremities, which dries out skin, and subsequently leads to itchiness.

If you develop any of these key warning signs, and the symptoms won’t go away after a few weeks, you should consider speaking to a doctor.

Other common diabetes symptoms include feeling very fatigued, having an unquenchable thirst, and passing more urine than normal.

Diagnosing diabetes early is absolutely crucial, because the condition increases the risk of a number of deadly complications, including strokes and kidney disease.

A quick blood test should be enough to reveal whether you have high blood sugar levels.

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