Symptoms of Diabetes

A few common symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst and urination, constant hunger, and increased fatigue. Other possible symptoms include weight loss and slow-healing wounds. In the case of type 1 diabetes, symptoms usually develop over a short time; symptoms of type 2 diabetes develop more gradually. Often, type 2 diabetes isn't even diagnosed until a routine blood test.

 

What Are the Symptoms of Diabetes?

When people have
 diabetes, the body's cells are locked and the sugar that's in the blood can't enter the cells to give them energy. Since sugar can't get into the cells, it starts to build up in the bloodstream. High levels of blood sugar can lead to the common signs and symptoms of diabetes, including:
 
  • Urinating more than usual
  • Frequently being very thirsty, hungry, or tired
  • Losing weight without trying
  • Blurry vision
  • Dry or itchy skin
  • Tingling sensations in your hands or feet
  • Sores that don't heal well.
 
Urinating More Frequently and/or Being Thirsty, Hungry, or Tired
Many people with diabetes symptoms urinate more often than usual. This is because their body is trying to get rid of extra sugar through the urine. Going to the bathroom a lot also makes people very thirsty.
 
Since the sugar from the food you eat can't get into your cells, your muscles and organs don't have the energy they need. This can cause you to feel tired and fatigued.
  
Losing Weight Without Trying
If your cells can't get energy from sugar, they'll try to get it from other sources. Sometimes, they'll get energy from the fat in your body. This is why some people with diabetes lose weight even when they aren't trying to. This weight loss usually only happens in people with type 1 diabetes. On the other hand, people with type 2 diabetes tend to be overweight before developing diabetes.
 
Blurry Vision and/or Dry, Itchy Skin
Blurry vision is also a common symptom of diabetes. This is because a high amount of sugar in the blood actually pulls fluid out of your tissues, including the lenses of your eyes. This decrease in fluid affects your ability to focus properly. In other parts of your body, the decrease in fluid can also lead to dry, itchy skin.
 
Tingling Sensations
Over time, high levels of sugar in the blood can damage the small blood vessels that supply the nerves. This can lead to problems such as tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands or feet.
 
Sores That Don't Heal
Diabetes affects the body's ability to heal and fight infection. So if you have diabetes, it may take longer for a sore to heal.
 

Comparing Symptoms of Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are the two most common types of this condition (see Diabetes Types). There are a couple of things to keep in mind when comparing type 1 and type 2 diabetes symptoms. Type 1 diabetes usually begins before the age of 40, with most people developing it as teenagers. Symptoms usually develop more quickly, and, in some cases, the first symptom of type 1 diabetes can be a life-threatening coma, known as diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA.

 
Often, children will be vomiting, a sign of DKA, and will be mistakenly diagnosed as having gastroenteritis (more commonly known as the stomach flu). However, new-onset diabetes is different from a GI infection, because frequent urination often accompanies continued vomiting, whereas if the vomiting is caused by a GI "bug," there is a decrease in urination, due to dehydration.
 
Type 2 diabetes is a condition that usually begins during middle age or beyond. The symptoms of type 2 diabetes usually develop gradually and are not as noticeable as in type 1 diabetes. In fact, it is not uncommon for people to have no symptoms of type 2 diabetes in the beginning, prior to being diagnosed; instead, they are diagnosed with diabetes after a routine laboratory test.
 
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD