My Experience: Living with Diabetes

I wanted to share something personal — something I hope helps someone else recognise the signs before things become too difficult.

When I was first being tested, my results showed crystals in my urine, which turned out to be a sign that my body wasn’t processing sugar properly. That discovery led to my diabetes diagnosis.
At first, it was overwhelming. I didn’t fully understand what it meant or how much it would change my life. But over time, I realised that diabetes doesn’t just affect your body — it affects your mind, your emotions, and the way you see yourself.

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Recognising the Symptoms

Diabetes can develop gradually, and it often goes unnoticed in the early stages. Some of the symptoms I experienced — and others that are common — include:

• Feeling tired or drained all the time
• Extreme thirst and needing to urinate more often than usual, especially at night
• Dry mouth and dehydration even after drinking fluids
• Blurred or changing vision
• Pain, tingling, or numbness in the hands, legs, or feet
• Dark patches of skin, especially around the neck, armpits, or groin (a sign called acanthosis nigricans)
• Increased hunger
• Irritability or mood swings
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Itching around the genitals or recurrent thrush infections
• Cuts or wounds taking longer to heal
• Recurrent infections (gum, urinary tract, or skin infections)
• Fruity or sweet-smelling breath
• Nausea or vomiting
• Periodontitis (gum disease) — gums pulling away from teeth or becoming sore and swollen
• Presence of ketones in the urine (a warning sign of high blood sugar or diabetic ketoacidosis)
• Changes in hearing or ringing in the ears

Everyone’s experience is slightly different, but even a few of these symptoms can signal that your blood sugar levels aren’t being managed properly. It’s so important to listen to your body and seek help early.

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Physical Symptoms

Physically, diabetes can be exhausting. Before I was diagnosed, I noticed constant thirst, tiredness, and pain in my body that I couldn’t explain. My mouth was always dry, my energy would crash suddenly, and my vision blurred. I had recurrent infections, and even small cuts took ages to heal.

When blood sugar levels stay high for too long, it puts stress on the nerves, blood vessels, and organs, which can cause:

• Nerve pain or numbness in the hands, feet, or legs
• Slow-healing wounds and skin problems
• Increased infections (especially gum, urinary, and yeast infections)
• Muscle weakness or body aches
• Extreme fatigue — the kind that makes even simple tasks feel impossible

Over time, these symptoms can make you feel trapped in a cycle of physical discomfort and emotional strain.

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Mental and Emotional Impact

What most people don’t talk about enough is how mentally draining diabetes can be. Constantly thinking about blood sugar levels, what you eat, medication, or insulin can feel relentless. It’s like having a full-time job that you can never clock out of.

There are days when it makes you feel anxious, low, or frustrated, especially when your body doesn’t react the way you expect it to. Some people describe it as “diabetes burnout” — a sense of emotional exhaustion that comes from trying to stay in control of something that’s often unpredictable.

Personally, I’ve noticed that it can affect:

• Mood and irritability — blood sugar swings can make emotions feel intense or unstable
• Sleep and concentration — it’s hard to rest when your body feels unbalanced
• Confidence and self-image — adjusting to a chronic condition can make you feel uncertain or disconnected from your old self
• Mental health — people with diabetes are more likely to experience anxiety and depression, not because they’re weak, but because they’re constantly managing something invisible yet powerful

I’ve learned that taking care of my mental health is just as important as managing my blood sugar. Talking about it, asking for help, and being kind to yourself are all part of healing.

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Understanding the Connection

When your blood sugar is high or low, it doesn’t just affect your body — it affects your brain chemistry too.
High glucose levels can cause fatigue, headaches, and irritability, while low levels can trigger anxiety, confusion, and even panic.
That’s why emotional symptoms often appear before you realise what’s physically happening — the two are completely intertwined.

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Living With It

Managing diabetes means balancing medication, diet, rest, and stress — every single day. It’s not easy, and there are moments when it feels like your body has betrayed you. But there are also moments of strength and clarity — moments where you realise that taking control, even in small ways, is powerful.

If you’re experiencing symptoms — things like extreme thirst, fatigue, blurred vision, numbness, or frequent infections — please, get checked.
Finding out early makes a huge difference, and you deserve the chance to feel better.

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A Final Note

Being diagnosed with diabetes has changed my life in ways I’m still learning to understand. It’s tested me physically and emotionally, but it’s also made me more aware of my health, my boundaries, and my resilience.

If you’re living with diabetes — or you’re worried you might be — you are not alone.
It’s okay to struggle. It’s okay to rest.
And it’s okay to ask for help.

💗 Take care of your body, and take care of your mind — they need each other.