Hey there, viewers! You’ll be shocked to know how common diabetes is. One in ten people in the US
struggle with this chronic disease. On top of that, one in three Americans has prediabetes.
What’s worse is that only 15% of people with this condition know they have it.
The rest go undetected. This is why it’s even more important to learn about
the tell-tale signs of diabetes. One of them appears on your nail.
In today’s video, we’re going to discuss the appearance of your nails and the signs of
diabetes on them. Is it a slight blush on your nails? Could yellow, brittle nails be a sign?
What about distinctive lines across your nails? We’ll be talking about all of these AND more…
(Pause) Diabetes is a deadly disease,
especially when you don’t even realize you’re suffering from it.
As diabetes is a silent killer with no obvious symptoms, not many know they have it unless they
specifically test for it. (Pause)
Your nails turn yellow and brittle Sometimes, your nails can turn
yellow. It’s probably because of an infection caused by fungus. In some very rare cases,
the yellow color on your nails could be from a condition called yellow nail syndrome.
You don’t have to worry about the color itself. It’s not harmful to your nails or fingers.
There is no need for any treatment, but it does point to issues such as diabetes.
More often than not, yellow nails usually do mean you have diabetes. This yellowish color is caused
by the breakdown of sugar in your body. The breakdown has an effect on the collagen in your
nails which causes the yellow color. (Pause)
Shortened nails Some of us have the habit of biting our
nails a lot. If you’re always biting your nails, they’re going to be shorter. There would even be
breakage, because of the constant biting. If you don’t bite your nails, and still
see breakage, it could be an indication of health-related issues. One issue is nerve damage.
While this is rare, the damage is usually because of diabetes.
Diabetes-related nerve damage also puts a stop to nail growth. Your fingernails will also look
fragile, almost as if they’ve been shortened. (Pause)
Blush on the nails If your nails are healthy,
they’re usually pink in color. The color of your nails also tends to be even.
But if you’re having health issues such as diabetes, you’ll see changes in the
color very quickly. The shape of your nails also changes, along with the thickness and consistency.
Among these changes, you might see a slight blush on your nails. If that happens,
it’s a definite symptom of diabetes. (Pause)
Lines across your nails Vertical ridges on your nails
are a normal occurrence. It’s just a consequence of aging. But if you see horizontal ridges,
then you might be suffering from type-2 diabetes. These horizontal lines are known as
Beau’s (boh’s) lines. They occur because your blood sugar levels are out of control.
You’ll need to take measures to moderate your blood sugar levels and manage your diabetes.
Keep in mind, these horizontal lines don’t always mean diabetes. You could have other underlying
symptoms causing this issue. For instance, a thyroid problem can also result in these strange
lines across the nails. (Pause)
While these symptoms can be helpful in spotting diabetes, they’re not the only signs you need
to look out for. There are other tell-tale signs as well. Let’s discuss them one by one.
(Pause) Frequent urination
One of the indications of diabetes is when you start to urinate at a much higher
frequency than usual. This happens because of the high blood sugar levels in your body.
When there are high blood sugar levels, it becomes difficult for your kidneys to process the sugar.
If they’re not able to do it effectively, a lot of glucose goes to waste. Your body gets
rid of this excess glucose in the form of urine. In the beginning, you may not even realize you’re
urinating far too much. But if you find yourself having to wake up in the middle of the night to
rush to the bathroom, it could be a sign you have diabetes. You should get yourself checked by a
physician if this is happening. (Pause)
Blurry vision Diabetes can also cause blurry vision.
It can be a minor issue you can fix by taking some eye drops or even getting
your blood sugar levels to stabilize. In some cases, however, it can be a more serious issue.
When you have blurry vision, it can be because your glucose levels are not in the right range.
If the glucose levels are either higher or lower than the range they’re supposed to be in,
it could be a sign of diabetes. Insulin treatment can also lead to blurred vision.
The treatment shifts the fluids in your eye, which can cause blurry vision.
Usually, this gets resolved by itself on its own after just a few days.
There are long-term effects of retinal disorders due to diabetes,
especially diabetic retinopathy. There are four different stages of diabetic retinopathy.
It’s unlikely you’ll even be aware of the condition until it reaches stage four.
If you do suffer from diabetic retinopathy, you won’t be able to completely cure it. But, you
can stabilize the blurry vision using treatment. You can also develop cataracts due to diabetes.
People at a younger age are more likely to get cataracts. When you do get cataracts,
your eye lens becomes cloudy, and you’ll have trouble seeing.
Glaucoma is another condition you can develop if you have diabetes.
People with diabetes have double the risk of getting glaucoma. You’ll have reddening of the
eyes, and will lose your peripheral vision. (Pause)
Extreme fatigue One of the most common
symptoms you face when you have diabetes is fatigue. It’s not a simple correlation
either. The disease itself causes extreme fatigue because of your glucose and blood sugar levels.
The fluctuating levels of glucose cause you to get tired. Your body does not get the energy
that it needs to function properly. In one study of more than 150 adults with type-2 diabetes,
it was seen that glucose levels can indirectly be the reason for fatigue.
There are other reasons why you might suffer from fatigue when you have diabetes.
It could be because of widespread inflammation or insomnia. You could also be facing low energy
levels due to hypothyroidism and kidney failure. You may also be experiencing lower energy levels
due to other factors. People with diabetes may skip meals from time to time. This means you’re
not getting enough nutrition, which causes a dip in the amount of energy your body can tap into.
A lack of physical activity is another common factor for people with diabetes.
When you’re not staying active, you’re going to feel sluggish and gross.
(Pause) Wound healing
If you suffer a minor injury and the wound does not heal as quickly as it usually does,
it could be a symptom of diabetes. When your blood sugar levels are high,
it hampers your body’s ability to heal wounds.
People with diabetes will also see that their wounds spread too quickly.
While you might get cuts and bruises anywhere, diabetic people tend to get injured on their feet.
If you suffer an injury on the foot, it will turn into an ulcer very quickly.
If you don’t get foot ulcers treated in time, it can become a more serious problem. Experts
suggest at least 15% of people with diabetes also end up with foot ulcers.
This is why it’s important to always keep track of wounds you suffer. This way, you can reduce
any chances of complications. (Pause)
Thickening of skin Digital sclerosis (skluh·roh·suhs) is
another tell-tale sign of diabetes. This condition makes the skin on the back of your hands look waxy
and tight. Over time, your fingers will get so stiff that it will be hard for them to even move.
Never ignore this skin condition. If it goes untreated for long, it will make your
fingertips feel like they have pebbles in them. The hardening of the skin won’t stop with just the
back of your hands. It will spread to other parts of your body like the upper arms, forearms, neck,
and shoulders. It might even spread to your back. (Pause)
Blisters on your skin Do you get blisters often? Is it one big blister,
or a cluster of them? Do they hurt? These are questions you seriously need to ask yourself.
Blisters could be a sign you have diabetes. People who struggle with diabetes usually
get blisters on their hands and feet. They may also appear on your legs and forearms.
You shouldn’t get confused between blisters caused by diabetes and those you get from
fungal infections and allergic reactions. The ones caused by diabetes are mostly painless.
These kinds of blisters do not cause scarring. If you think you’re getting blisters too often,
it’s time to talk to a doctor. (Pause)
Dark Patches Ever noticed dark patches of velvety skin on
your neck, armpit, or groin? If yes, you should be concerned. It could be a sign of diabetes.
Dark patches indicate there’s too much insulin in your body. Your skin could also feel really itchy.
You’ll find yourself scratching at the worst moments. It might even smell a little funky.
The darkening of the skin on the crease of your neck is a huge giveaway that you
could be struggling with diabetes. This condition is called acanthosis
nigricans (ak-un-thosis-ni-gruh-kans). There are a number of subtle signs you
need to look out for if you want to catch diabetes early. The earlier you get a hold
of it, the easier it could be to treat. Warning signs that appear on your nails
aren’t the only symptoms of diabetes. There are other surprising symptoms you should know
about. Once diabetes is diagnosed, you’ll need to pay close attention to your diet. Let’s keep
the conversation going with a couple related videos, shall we? Here’s what you need to know…
Check out the 6 Best and 6 Worst Vegetables For Diabetics. You should also watch 16 Signs
Your Blood Sugar Is High & 8 Diabetes Symptoms. Go ahead, click one. Or better yet, watch both,
and learn more about diabetes, and how your diet affects it. Did you know about
these warning signs before watching this video? Let us know in the comments below!