Little-known symptom of diabetes you might notice after waking up in the morning

03 September 2023 , 14:56

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You may notice the symptom when you first wake up (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

It is important to be on the lookout for the symptoms of health conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes as swift action, lifestyle changes and advice from a health professional are vital for the management of these conditions. Type 1 diabetes is when a person's immune system destroys and attacks the cells that produce insulin whilst Type 2 diabetes is when the body does not produce enough insulin or a person's body does not react to insulin in the way that it should.

The symptoms of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are different according to the NHS, and people can go years without noticing that they have Type 2 diabetes as some show no symptoms at all. Type 2 is the most popular type in the UK, accounting for 90 per cent of all diabetes cases.

There is one silent symptom of diabetes that many people do not know that could be an indicator of the condition - experiencing pins and needles in the morning. According to UNC Health Wayne: "Extra sugar in the blood can damage nerve-endings, especially those nerves located farthest from the spinal cord such as your feet."

The article adds that it is a red flag and possible indicator of diabetes if you feel "a tingling or numbness that feels like burning in your feet when you wake up". Pins and needles joins the list as a symptom of diabetes along with frequent urination, as UNC Health Wayne added: "Most people urinate four to seven times in a day. If you are making more trips to the bathroom, especially waking multiple times at night to go, it may be a sign that your kidneys are working overtime to flush out excess sugar in your blood."

Another symptom is volatile moods - with the article noting that unstable blood sugar can cause some people to experience a rollercoaster of emotions. They noted: "High blood sugar also mimics symptoms of depression such as low energy drive and wanting to stay in bed."

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Other common symptoms of diabetes according to the NHS are feeling thirsty, feeling tired, weight loss and loss of muscle bulk, and thrush/itching around the penis or vagina. The NHS website says: "It's very important for diabetes to be diagnosed as early as possible because it's likely to get worse if left untreated and can cause long-term health problems."

Naimah Archibald-Powell