Wondering if you might have diabetes?
Read on to learn about the symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms of diabetes are caused by higher levels of glucose (sugar) in your blood. While both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have similar warning signs, symptoms tend to develop much more quickly for type 1 compared to type 2 (i.e. over several weeks vs several years).
Here are common symptoms for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes:
Frequent urination: When blood sugar levels are elevated, you may not reabsorb all of the sugar as it passes through the kidneys. Your body will try to get rid of it by making more urine. For children, that could mean sudden or more frequent bed wetting.
Increased thirst: As a result of increased urination, you may get dehydrated, and will therefore be drinking more than usual.
Fatigue (feeling tired or lethargic): Sugar provides you with energy. Your cells need insulin to bring the sugar in, so if your body doesn’t produce enough or any insulin, the sugar has no way of entering the cells. This can make you extra tired.
Unexplained weight loss: Weight loss may be an early sign of diabetes and is more prevalent in type 1 diabetes. It can occur even though you are eating and feel hungry.
Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet Damage to the nerves can result from elevated blood sugar levels causing what is known as ‘peripheral neuropathy‘.
- Blurred vision: When blood sugar levels are increased, fluids can leave the lenses of your eyes, causing vision changes.
- Slow-healing cuts and bruises: Cuts or wounds on the skin may heal more slowly than you are used to. This may be due to poor circulation and nerve damage, which can be a result of high blood sugar from diabetes.
- Frequent or recurring infections: Diabetes can weaken your immune system making you more susceptible to illnesses.
- Trouble getting or maintaining an erection: This kind of sexual dysfunction is common in people with type 2 diabetes, and may indicate early nerve damage due to high blood sugars. Sexual dysfunction may also impact women.
- Fruity-smelling breath: Having fruity-smelling breath can be a warning sign of diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition where ketones build up in the blood. This mainly affects people with type 1 diabetes, but can also occur in people with type 2 diabetes. It requires prompt medical attention.
If you have any of the above symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider about your concerns. A blood test will help determine if these symptoms might be caused by diabetes.
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