Some people often complain that their lower legs itch for a long time and when they go to the hospital they find out it's diabetes. They can't understand the connection between itchy lower legs and diabetes, and how they suddenly developed such a difficult disease. Let me explain the early signs of diabetes for everyone.
【Long-term itchy lower legs may be caused by diabetes】
Most itching is caused by skin diseases, but not always. If there is long-term, recurrent, and persistent skin itching that is difficult to treat, it may be caused by diabetes.
Doctors say that high blood sugar in diabetic patients can be excreted with sweat, and stimulate the skin or increase the sugar content in the skin, causing the skin to be in a chronic dehydrated state for a long time, reducing sweating, and causing the skin to be excessively dry and itchy.
In addition, diabetic patients often have peripheral neuritis, and changes in temperature, friction from clothing, contact with synthetic fur fabrics, and consuming alcohol and spicy food can all trigger skin itching. About 1/5 of diabetic patients have symptoms of skin itching, which can occur on the inner thighs, back, and other areas, and the itching is more persistent. The higher the blood sugar, the more severe the itching.
Only when blood sugar is controlled, the itching gradually subsides. So if diabetic patients who have been consistently receiving treatment suddenly experience persistent and unrelenting skin itching, it is best to check their blood sugar and possibly adjust the treatment plan.
The symptoms of diabetic foot can be divided into four stages as the condition progresses:
Stage 1: There are no clinical symptoms of obstructive arterial disease.
Stage 2: Intermittent claudication occurs.
Stage 3: Ischemic rest pain occurs.
Stage 4: Foot ulcers or gangrene occur.
If the lower legs itch for a long time, it is necessary to go to the hospital for an examination to determine the cause. Itchy lower legs are not necessarily caused by diabetes, but if it is caused by diabetes, it means that the diabetes is already very serious. Patients must seek medical attention immediately.
【Other early signs of diabetes】
1. Changes in vision
Changes in vision are also early symptoms of diabetes. Elevated blood sugar can cause changes in body fluids, leading to unstable vision. Some people experience improved vision and no longer need to wear glasses, while others experience worsening vision and blurry vision.
2. Sleep disorders
A large percentage of type 2 diabetes patients have mild to moderate sleep apnea, often characterized by sleep apnea. People who feel tired and sleepy during the day and snore loudly at night should check their blood sugar levels. For high-risk groups of diabetes, such as those with a family history of diabetes, obesity, and metabolic abnormalities, it is important to pay attention to the early symptoms of diabetes and undergo early screening.
3. Facial redness
Typical diabetic patients do not have abnormal changes in facial complexion before and after the onset of the disease. However, a survey of thousands of hidden diabetic patients found that the vast majority of patients had reddish facial complexion, with 89.5% of patients showing varying degrees of facial redness.
4. Changes in appetite
If you find that your appetite has increased compared to before but you still feel unsatisfied and want to eat more, while your body is gradually losing weight and feeling tired and weak, and you drink more water but still can't relieve your thirst, it may be a sign of diabetes. In addition, the amount of urine increases with increased water intake.
5. Hand and foot blisters
Hidden diabetic patients may suddenly develop blisters that resemble burns on their hands, feet, toes, and shins without any apparent cause. The characteristic of these blisters is that they are neither painful nor itchy.
