9 Signs of Diabetes That May Appear at Night
Some symptoms of diabetes or high blood sugar can become especially noticeable overnight. They don’t prove that someone has diabetes, but recurring symptoms are worth discussing with a healthcare professional.
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Frequent nighttime urination — High blood glucose can cause the kidneys to produce more urine.
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Excessive thirst — Fluid loss from frequent urination can make you unusually thirsty.
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Dry mouth — Dehydration can leave your mouth and throat dry during the night.
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Night sweats — In someone taking insulin or certain diabetes medicines, sweating can be a sign of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
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Restless or disrupted sleep — Repeated urination, thirst, itching, or glucose fluctuations can interfere with sleep.
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Tingling or burning feet — Diabetes-related nerve damage can cause burning, pins-and-needles, or pain that is often more noticeable at night.
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Itchy or unusually dry skin — High blood sugar and associated dehydration can contribute to skin problems.
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Leg cramps or discomfort — These can have many causes, but nerve or circulation problems associated with diabetes may contribute.
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Unexplained fatigue the next morning — Poor sleep from nighttime symptoms can leave you exhausted, although fatigue itself has many possible causes.
When to get checked
If several of these symptoms are occurring repeatedly, a blood glucose test and/or HbA1c test can help determine whether diabetes or prediabetes is present.
If someone with diabetes develops confusion, severe weakness, fainting, difficulty breathing, or becomes difficult to wake, seek emergency medical care. These can indicate a potentially dangerous glucose abnormality or another serious problem.
