9 signs of diabetes that may appear at night
Diabetes can cause symptoms that become particularly noticeable during the night, although none of these signs alone proves that you have diabetes.
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Frequent nighttime urination — High blood glucose can cause the kidneys to remove excess glucose through urine, increasing urination.
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Excessive thirst — Losing more fluid through urination can make you unusually thirsty.
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Night sweats — In someone taking insulin or certain diabetes medicines, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can cause sweating during sleep.
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Waking up unusually hungry — Blood-glucose fluctuations can sometimes cause hunger during the night.
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Restless or disrupted sleep — Repeated urination, thirst, sweating, or glucose fluctuations can interfere with sleep.
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Morning headaches or feeling exhausted — Poor sleep and overnight glucose abnormalities can contribute to these symptoms.
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Tingling, burning, or numb feet — Diabetes-related nerve damage (neuropathy) can cause symptoms that are especially noticeable when you’re resting at night.
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Itchy or dry skin — High blood glucose and associated dehydration can contribute to dry, itchy skin.
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Blurred vision — Changes in blood glucose can temporarily alter the shape of the eye’s lens and cause fluctuating vision.
When to get checked
If you’re experiencing several of these symptoms, particularly frequent urination + increased thirst + unexplained weight loss or fatigue, arrange a blood-glucose test. Diabetes can be present without obvious symptoms, so testing is much more reliable than trying to diagnose it from symptoms.
Seek urgent medical care for severe vomiting, abdominal pain, deep/rapid breathing, confusion, extreme weakness, or difficulty staying awake, particularly if diabetes is known or suspected. These can be signs of a dangerous metabolic emergency.
