Diabetes Symptoms
Diabetes doesn’t always cause symptoms. Still, some changes in your health may signal the disease. What follows are some of those warning signs. If you notice any of them, ask your doctor if you need a diabetes test.
Keep in mind: Many symptoms are similar for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. One key difference? Type 2 symptoms may be mild and come on gradually, while type 1 changes often start quickly, and the symptoms may be severe.
EXTREME THIRST
Diabetes makes your kidneys work harder to remove excess blood sugar. This can make you very thirsty.
SEVERE HUNGER AND UNINTENDED WEIGHT LOSS
Diabetes also makes it harder for the body to convert glucose from food into energy. This can cause you to be extremely hungry, even if you’re eating enough.
You may also lose weight, even though you’re eating more food to try to sate your hunger.
FREQUENT INFECTIONS
Diabetes makes it harder for the body to fight infections. As a result, you may get more infections than usual. In particular, watch for yeast infections—high blood sugar fuels the growth of yeast.
DRY, ITCHY SKIN
This can be caused by a variety of issues related to diabetes, such as yeast infections or poor circulation. When poor circulation is the cause, the itching may be particularly strong in the lower legs.
SLOW HEALING
Poor blood flow and nerve damage brought on by high blood sugar can impair healing. As a result, sores, cuts and bruises may linger.
BLURRY VISION
High blood sugar levels can cause fluid changes or tissue swelling in the eyes, resulting in blurred vision. This vision change is temporary. However, long-standing diabetes can cause more serious eye damage.
FATIGUE
Diabetes can make you feel very tired and weak. This run-down feeling can happen if you’re low on energy or dehydrated due to the disease.
Don’t ignore diabetes symptoms
Diagnosis and treatment can help you prevent damage from the disease.
Sources
- American Academy of Dermatology. “Diabetes: 10 Warning Signs That Can Appear on Your Skin.” https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/diabetes-warning-signs.
- American Diabetes Association. “Diabetes and Skin Complications.” https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/complications/skin-complications.
- American Diabetes Association. “Understanding Type 1 Diabetes.” https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/type-1.
- Breakthrough T1 Diabetes. “Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes.” https://www.breakthrought1d.org/t1d-basics/symptoms.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Diabetes Symptoms.” https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/symptoms.html.
- National Council on Aging. “What Are 10 Warning Signs of Diabetes in Older Adults?” https://www.ncoa.org/article/what-are-10-warning-signs-of-diabetes-in-older-adults.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. “Diabetic Eye Disease.” https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/diabetic-eye-disease.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. “Symptoms & Causes of Diabetes.” https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/symptoms-causes.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. “Type 2 Diabetes.” https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/type-2-diabetes.
