Diabetes symptoms aren’t always the easiest to spot. The first warning signs are often reluctant to rear their ugly heads, leaving many patients in the dark.
According to the NHS, many people can go unaware of type 2 diabetes for years because the red flags tend to be general.
This makes symptom awareness front and centre.
Fortunately, a pharmacist has outlined what to look for first thing in the morning.
Abbas Kanani, a pharmacist from Chemist Click, shared that you may experience three key sensations during this time.
Kanani told Express.co.uk: “You may notice you have increased thirst, or hunger, or feel the need to pee frequently.”
Polydipsia, or excessive thirst, is one of the “initial” symptoms of diabetes, according to Diabetes.co.uk.
While everyone is bound to get thirsty from time to time, feeling thirsty all the time or your thirst being stronger than usual and continuing even after you drink could be a sign.
Polyphagia, or excessive hunger, is considered one of the three main signs of diabetes, the health portal explains.
Sugar is the main form of energy your body uses from the food you eat. But without enough insulin, your body can’t use glucose for energy.
This lack of energy usage can prompt you to be hungrier and eat more.
The last sign the pharmacist referred to – polyuria, or peeing more frequently than usual – details passing excessive amounts of urine each time you pee.
As the excess sugar in your blood can’t be absorbed, it ends up in the urine where it draws more water. This can result in unusually large volumes of urine.
The NHS recommends speaking to your GP “as soon as possible” if you experience warning signs of diabetes.
What time should you eat breakfast if you have diabetes?
The pharmacist explained that breakfast is a crucial meal for diabetics because it helps regulate blood sugar metabolism.
He said: “The body’s blood sugar levels are naturally high when we wake up and it is generally recommended to eat between one and one and half hours after waking.
“Some studies, such as this one by the International Journal of Epidemiology, have suggested that eating an earlier breakfast may help to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.”