Diabetes is a long-term condition that affects how your body uses sugar in the blood. If it is not treated, it can lead to serious health problems. Knowing the early symptoms and the common signs of diabetes can help you get checked sooner. It is also useful to learn about the different types of diabetes, the main causes, and simple steps on how to prevent it.

What Are the Symptoms of Diabetes?

The symptoms of diabetes can be different for each person. They depend on the type and the level of blood sugar.

Common Symptoms of Diabetes

Some common symptoms of diabetes include:
●    Feeling very thirsty and needing to urinate more often
●    Tiredness even after resting
●    Blurry eyesight
●    Losing weight without trying
●    Cuts or wounds that heal slowly
●    Tingling in the hands or feet

Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes usually starts suddenly, often in children or young adults. 

The main signs of diabetes here are:
●    Extreme thirst and hunger
●    Urinating often
●    Feeling sick, stomach pain, or vomiting

Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes develops more slowly. Many people do not notice the changes at first. 

The symptoms of diabetes may include:
●    Feeling more tired over time
●    Being thirsty often
●    Needing to urinate many times a day
●    Dark patches of skin on the neck or under the arms

Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes happens in pregnancy. There are often no clear signs of diabetes, which is why check-ups during pregnancy are very important.

Signs of Diabetes to Watch For

Early Signs of Diabetes

The early signs of diabetes are easy to miss. You may think they are from stress or being busy. 

Look out for:
●    Feeling hungry even after eating
●    Infections that come back often, such as gum or skin infections
●    Tiredness that does not go away
●    Noticing these early signs of diabetes helps doctors treat it sooner and lower the risks.

What Causes Diabetes?

The main causes of diabetes depend on the type.

●    Type 1 Diabetes: Often caused by the immune system attacking cells that make insulin.
●    Type 2 Diabetes: Linked to being overweight, lack of exercise, and the body not using insulin properly.
●    Gestational Diabetes: Caused by hormones in pregnancy that affect how insulin works.

Other diabetes causes include family history, eating too much sugar or processed food, and high stress.

How to Prevent Diabetes

You cannot prevent Type 1 diabetes, but you can lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. 

Here are some tips on how to prevent diabetes:
●    Eat more fruit, vegetables, and whole grains
●    Cut down on sweet and processed foods
●    Be active every day, even walking helps
●    Keep a healthy weight
●    Go for regular check-ups if you have a family history

These simple steps are the best way to prevent diabetes and stay healthy longer.

Why Early Detection and Treatment Matter

Ignoring the symptoms of diabetes can cause health problems such as:
●    Heart disease
●    Kidney damage
●    Nerve pain
●    Eye problems that may lead to blindness

If you see the early signs of diabetes, getting checked quickly makes a big difference.

Protect Yourself with Health Insurance / Takaful 

Living with diabetes can be costly due to ongoing expenses such as medication, regular check-ups, and treatment. Having health insurance / Takaful can help you manage these costs more effectively. It also supports preventive care, including screenings that may detect early symptoms of diabetes before it becomes more serious.

Beyond early screenings, it’s important to have protection in place before any diagnosis as this helps keep your premium or contribution more affordable. Once you have diabetes, your premium or contribution may be higher, but coverage can still provide valuable support for your ongoing treatment and care. Be sure to consult your financial advisor to ensure your plan offers sufficient protection for your needs.

Sun Life Malaysia’s Health Insurance & Takaful Medical Card plans are designed to give you and your loved ones peace of mind. Options include:
•    Prime Family Critical Care-i for critical illness protection
•    Sun MediMax-i and Sun MaxiMed-i for hospitalisation and surgical benefits
•    Sun eCritical Shield / Sun eCritical Shield-i, which also include diabetes care benefits

For added coverage, explore Sun eMediCare Income / Sun eMediCare Income-i, which offers hospital income protection with long coverage terms and no medical check-up required.