Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes

Do you think you might have diabetes? Continue reading to learn about the symptoms of diabetes in all its forms in detail.

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes

Not everyone with diabetes experiences symptoms. Some people, especially those with prediabetes, gestational diabetes, or type 2 diabetes, may not show any symptoms. On the other hand, symptoms can appear quickly and be more severe in people with type 1 diabetes.

The symptoms a person experiences depend on how high their blood sugar levels are. Here are the most common symptoms:

• Excessive thirst and dry mouth: The first sign many people with diabetes notice is extreme thirst and a dry mouth.
• Frequent urination: High blood sugar levels increase urine production, and drinking more water leads to the frequent and urgent need to urinate.
• Blurry vision: Blurred vision is often one of the early signs and symptoms of diabetes. High blood sugar can cause the eye lenses to swell, leading to blurry vision.
• Unexplained weight loss: The body starts breaking down muscle and fat for energy because it can't use glucose as a source of energy, leading to weight loss.
• Constant hunger: Because cells are not getting enough energy, the body doesn't produce enough insulin or can't use it properly to help glucose enter the cells and provide energy.
• Numbness and tingling in hands and feet: High blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage, leading to numbness, tingling, and swelling in the hands and feet.
• Slow healing of sores and wounds: People with diabetes often experience slow healing of wounds and sores due to a weakened immune system.
• Dry skin: High blood sugar levels can cause dry, itchy skin.
• Frequent yeast infections (skin or vaginal): Elevated blood sugar levels increase the risk of yeast infections.
• Fatigue: High blood glucose levels slow down circulation, preventing cells from getting the nutrients and oxygen they need, leading to fatigue.

Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms

Type 1 diabetes means the body doesn't produce enough insulin. This type is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, but it can affect people at any age.

The symptoms of type 1 diabetes are the same as those of type 2 diabetes, but they differ in how they present. In type 1 diabetes, symptoms appear quickly within a few days or weeks, especially in children. The most common symptoms include:

• Frequent urination.
• Thirst.
• Fatigue and loss of energy.
• Weight loss.

Additional symptoms may indicate serious complications known as diabetic ketoacidosis, such as vomiting, stomach pain, bad breath, and difficulty breathing.

Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms

This is the most common type of diabetes, especially in people over 40 years old, and it means the body does not use insulin properly.

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes are usually mild and develop more slowly, especially in the early stages of the disease. A person may not know they have diabetes for years or may find out through a routine blood test. The most common sign of this type is the appearance of dark skin on certain parts of the body, known as acanthosis nigricans.

Gestational Diabetes Symptoms

Gestational diabetes often does not cause symptoms, but in some cases, a pregnant woman may experience increased thirst, frequent urination, dry mouth, or fatigue, which are all normal symptoms.

However, the doctor usually diagnoses gestational diabetes through testing between weeks 24-28 of pregnancy, or earlier in cases such as:

1. Obesity in the pregnant woman, as it increases the risk of diabetes.
2. Family history of gestational diabetes.
3. Previous pregnancies with gestational diabetes.

Blazma offers all the diabetes tests your doctor may request for diagnosis, including Glucose-Fasting, Glucose-Random, HbA1c, and Glucose-Random-Urine tests.