This blog post (Portuguese language to English) is based on insights from Dr. Cristian Morato’s YouTube video: “Sintomas de Diabetes: Sinais de Alerta que Você Não Pode Ignorar.” Dr. Morato is a practicing physician dedicated to spreading accessible health information to the general public.
Have you ever wondered if your body is trying to tell you something about your health, but you just don’t know how to listen?
Here’s a surprising fact:
More than one in three adults in many countries are walking around with prediabetes right now—and most don’t even know it. Their blood sugar levels are already higher than normal, but not quite high enough to be called diabetes yet. The scary part? Without intervention, many of these people will develop full-blown Type 2 diabetes within the next five years.
The good news is that your body actually sends out warning signs of diabetes long before things get serious. You just need to know what to look for.
Today, we’re breaking down the key symptoms explained by Dr. Cristian Morato, a practicing physician who specializes in helping people understand these signals before it’s too late. Whether you’re worried about yourself, your child, or an aging parent, this guide will help you spot the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and take action while you still can.
Type 1 vs Type 2 Diabetes: What’s Actually Happening?
Before we dive into the symptoms, let’s clear up a common confusion. Diabetes isn’t just one disease—there are several types, and they act very differently in your body.
Type 1 Diabetes: The Genetic Surprise
Type 1 diabetes usually shows up suddenly in children, teenagers, or young adults. It’s strongly tied to genetics, which means it often runs in families. If a parent or sibling has it, you’ll want to watch extra carefully.
Dr. Morato explains that this type appears “because it is genetic.” When it hits, it hits fast. The symptoms develop over just a few weeks, and they’re hard to miss once you know what you’re looking for.
Type 2 Diabetes: The Lifestyle Connection
Type 2 diabetes is what most adults need to worry about. Unlike Type 1, this one develops slowly over years and is heavily influenced by how we live. Dr. Morato notes it appears more in adulthood (often after age 30, though younger people with obesity can get it too).
The main triggers? Carrying extra weight, not moving enough, and eating too many sugary or fatty foods.
Here’s a simple comparison:
| Feature | Type 1 Diabetes | Type 2 Diabetes |
| Age it starts | Usually childhood/teen years | Usually adulthood (30+) |
| Weight change | Sudden, rapid weight loss | Gradual weight gain, sometimes later loss |
| Family history | Strong genetic link | Some genetics, but mostly lifestyle |
| Onset speed | Weeks (sudden) | Years (gradual) |
| Can you prevent it? | No (autoimmune) | Yes, with lifestyle changes |
Early Warning Signs You Absolutely Can’t Ignore
Now, let’s talk about the symptoms of high blood sugar that Dr. Morato says should send you straight to a doctor for a blood test. Remember, catching these early—during the prediabetes phase—gives you the best chance to turn things around completely.
Wounds That Take Forever to Heal
Have you noticed that a small cut or scratch seems to linger for weeks instead of days? Slow-healing wounds are one of the first red flags.
Dr. Morato describes patients who get a small cut that “doesn’t close like it used to anymore. It takes two weeks, three weeks, four weeks for a tiny cut to heal, and many times that cut ends up getting infected.”
For example:
Imagine you scrape your knee gardening on a Saturday. Normally, it scabs over by Monday. But if your blood sugar is high, that same scrape might still be open and oozing the following month, requiring antibiotics to clear up the infection.
Infections That Keep Coming Back
If you’re suddenly getting sore throats, urinary tract infections, or athlete’s foot moreoften than usual, your blood sugar might be feeding the enemy.
High glucose levels create a sugar buffet for bacteria and fungi. Dr. Morato puts it vividly: “Bacteria and fungi love sugar. When they find it in the patient’s body, it’s like they found a bakery for themselves.” They eat, reproduce, and set up camp in your body.
Watch for:
- Frequent throat infections
- Recurring urinary tract infections
- Persistent fungal infections on feet and hands
- Athlete’s foot that won’t quit with over-the-counter creams
Dark Velvety Patches on Your Skin
This one surprises a lot of people. Have you noticed dark, velvety-looking patches on the back of your neck, armpits, or groin that look like dirt but won’t wash off?
This condition is called acanthosis nigricans (try saying that five times fast!). Dr. Morato explains that these dark patches happen because “there is a lot of sugar in the skin, and the skin’s metabolism starts producing more pigment.”
For example:
You might scrub your neck in the shower thinking it’s just dirt or “neck crust,” but if the darkness persists, it’s actually your skin reacting to insulin resistance. This symptom appears most often in people carrying extra weight and is a strong indicator that diabetes is developing.
Burning Feet That Keep You Awake at Night
Picture this:
You finally get into bed after a long day, but as soon as you lie down, your feet feel like they’re on fire. They’re burning, tingling, or feel “like they’re boiling.” This isn’t just annoying—it’s a sign of diabetic neuropathy.
Dr. Morato warns that diabetes is “one of the main causes of burning in the feet.” Here’s why: your nerves are delicate. They can’t function properly when surrounded by excess sugar. When glucose levels stay high for too long, it damages the nerve endings, especially in your extremities like feet and hands.
This symptom deserves immediate attention because nerve damage can become permanent if blood sugar isn’t controlled.
The Thirst-Urination-Weight Loss Cycle
Have you become best friends with your bathroom? Do you feel thirsty no matter how much water you drink? Are you losing weight without trying?
Dr. Morato describes this as a vicious cycle:
- High blood sugar forces your kidneys to work overtime filtering out excess glucose
- The sugar pulls water with it when you urinate (a condition called polyuria)
- You become dehydrated and lose water weight
- Your brain triggers intense thirst (polydipsia) to replace the fluids
- You drink more, urinate more, and the cycle continues
For example:
You might find yourself drinking a liter of water and needing to pee 30 minutes later, all while the scale shows you’re down five pounds in two weeks despite eating normally.
Blurry Vision That Changes Day to Day
If your glasses prescription seems to change monthly, or if text on your phone looks fuzzy one day and clear the next, don’t just rush to the optometrist—check your blood sugar.
This condition is called diabetic retinopathy. When there’s too much sugar in your blood, it damages the tiny blood vessels in your eyes, causing fluid to leak into your retina.
Dr. Morato notes that in early diabetes or prediabetes, patients report that their vision “is a little blurry, a little opaque. They notice their vision isn’t the same anymore.” If caught early, this damage can be reversible with proper blood sugar control.
Constant Hunger Even After Big Meals
Unexplained, intense hunger—especially right after eating—is another signal. When you drink lots of water to combat thirst (as mentioned above), you dilute the nutrients in your blood. This triggers your brain’s hunger center, making you feel ravenous even when you’ve just finished dinner.
Dr. Morato clarifies this isn’t emotional eating or stress-snacking: “The diabetic patient is very hungry and wants to eat all the time.” This is physiological hunger driven by blood sugar chaos, not psychological cravings.
Why Does High Blood Sugar Cause All These Problems?
You might be wondering: how can one thing—sugar—cause so many different symptoms in your skin, eyes, feet, and immune system?
Think of glucose like sand in an engine. A little bit helps things run (your brain loves glucose), but too much acts like abrasive particles grinding away at delicate systems. When blood sugar stays elevated:
- Nerves get damaged (causing burning and numbness)
- Blood vessels weaken (affecting eyes, kidneys, and circulation)
- Immune cells get sluggish (letting infections spread)
- Organs work overtime (as your kidneys try to filter out excess sugar)
The key takeaway? These warning signs of diabetes are your body’s smoke alarm. Ignore them, and the “fire” of permanent damage spreads. Listen to them, and you might prevent the fire entirely.
Can You Stop Diabetes Before It Starts?
If you’ve recognized some of these prediabetes symptoms in yourself, don’t panic. Type 2 diabetes is often preventable and sometimes even reversible if caught early enough.
Dr. Morato emphasizes that “the prevention of diabetes is basic and not very difficult when we talk about Type 2 diabetes, which is not genetic.” Here’s your action plan:
Move Your Body (It’s Easier Than You Think)
You don’t need to run marathons or join a CrossFit gym. Research shows that just 30 minutes of walking per day significantly reduces your risk of diabetes, heart attacks, and high blood pressure.
Start simple:
Walk around your neighborhood after dinner, park farther away at the grocery store, or take the stairs instead of the elevator. The goal is consistent movement, not Olympic-level training.
Fix Your Plate (Without Losing All the Fun)
Dietary changes don’t mean you’ll never enjoy food again. Dr. Morato suggests:
- Cut back on fried foods (save them for weekends, not daily)
- Reduce sugary treats (that daily croissant or pastry needs to become an occasional treat)
- Limit fast food (again, exception—not rule)
- Pile on the plants (fruits and vegetables should fill half your plate)
As Dr. Morato wisely notes, “The best way to not get sick with these symptoms isn’t treating the disease with medicine after it appears—it’s preventing it.” That weekend burger or pastry? Enjoy it! Just make sure it’s not your breakfast every single morning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.1. How do I know if I’m prediabetic or already diabetic?
The only way to know for sure is a blood test. If your fasting blood sugar is between 100-125 mg/dL, you’re in the prediabetic range. Above 126 mg/dL on two separate tests indicates diabetes. Don’t guess—get tested if you have symptoms.
Q.2. Can Type 2 diabetes be reversed?
Often, yes! If caught in the prediabetes stage or early diabetes, significant lifestyle changes (losing 5-7% of body weight, exercising 150 minutes per week) can return blood sugar to normal levels without medication.
Q.3. Why do diabetics lose weight suddenly?
Especially in Type 1, but sometimes in Type 2, your body can’t use glucose for energy (because insulin isn’t working properly). So it starts burning muscle and fat for fuel instead. Plus, frequent urination causes water weight loss.
Q.4. Is burning feet always a sign of diabetes?
No, but it’s one of the most common causes. Other possibilities include vitamin deficiencies, alcohol damage, or other nerve conditions. However, if you have burning feet plus any other symptoms on this list, see a doctor immediately.
Q.5. How quickly can diabetes develop?
Type 1 can onset in just weeks. Type 2 usually develops over years, which is why the symptoms are easy to miss until problems become severe.
Conclusion
Your body is constantly sending you messages—you just need to know the language. Slow-healing cuts, burning feet, blurry vision, and unquenchable thirst aren’t just annoying quirks of getting older. They’re urgent warning signs of diabetes that deserve your attention.
The beautiful thing is that knowledge truly is power here. Catching these symptoms during the prediabetes phase gives you a golden opportunity to rewrite your health story through simple walks around the block and smarter food choices.
What’s your next step? Will you schedule that blood test you’ve been putting off, or take a 30-minute walk today? I’d love to hear what resonated with you in the comments below.
Credits:
This blog post (Portuguese language to English) is based on insights from Dr. Cristian Morato’s YouTube video: “Sintomas de Diabetes: Sinais de Alerta que Você Não Pode Ignorar.” Dr. Morato is a practicing physician dedicated to spreading accessible health information to the general public.
