A doctor has warned of a surprising early sign of type 2 diabetes that can strike before meals and show up in your mood.
Symptom awareness and getting checked can unlock the door to early treatment, which could lower your chances of complications caused by high blood sugar levels down the line.
While some symptoms of type 2 diabetes are well-known, like going to the toilet more often, always feeling thirsty, or feeling very tired, there’s another lesser-known sign that could ring alarm bells.
If you often experience mood swings, it could mean you have unstable blood sugar levels that are making you lose your temper. High blood sugar levels can sometimes present as low energy drive, tiredness, wanting to stay in bed, feeling grumpy or worried, according to Dr Naheed Ali, a physician and nutritionist.
Dr Naheed told the Mirror: “We all get a little grumpy when we’re hungry, that’s just human nature. But if that familiar feeling of ‘hanger’ becomes more intense or frequent it could be a sign that your body’s blood sugar regulation isn’t quite as smooth as it should be. It’s not just about the grumbling stomach, but a deeper metabolic shift potentially signalling issues like type 2 diabetes.
“Think of it this way: if you normally feel a slight edge when you miss lunch, imagine that feeling amplified. Your patience wears thin more quickly, small annoyances feel like major frustrations, and you might even find yourself snapping unexpectedly. That exaggerated irritability, especially if it’s out of character for you, could be your body’s way of saying it needs attention.”
The doctor explained that blood sugar imbalances can leave you feeling completely out of sorts, and low-energy crashes can sap your motivation.
He added: “If any of this rings alarm bells, don’t brush it off. Connect with your physician about a simple blood sugar screening. Catching issues early opens doors – better health management, balanced moods, improved daily functioning. Staying silent means lost time and added struggles down the road.”
Apart from mood swings and being “hangry”, the NHS recommends looking out for the following tell-tale symptoms of type 2 diabetes:
- Peeing more than usual
- Feeling thirsty all the time
- Feeling very tired
- Losing weight without trying to
- Itching around your penis or vagina, or repeatedly getting thrush
- Cuts or wounds taking longer to heal
- Blurred vision.
