Diabetes sign: Your gums bleed
The same sugar-loving bacteria that cause your cuts to heal more slowly can also mess with your gums. That can make them red, swollen, tender, and more likely to bleed when you brush or floss, says Halprin.
Normally, your body fights off infection-causing germs in your mouth. “But the elevated sugars make your mouth a much friendlier place for the bacteria, and decrease your mouth’s natural bacteria-fighting properties,” she says.
