The symptoms of diabetes most of the time begin gradually, and can be difficult to identify initially. They may include fatigue, sudden weight loss, blurred vision, slow healing of wounds, frequent urination - especially at night, and excessive thirst.



When there is extra glucose in the blood, the body gets rid of it through frequent urination. The loss of fluids induces extreme thirst, leading to more frequent urination.

A doctor may also suspect a patient to have diabetes if he has health problems related to diabetes, such as heart disease, changes in vision, numbness in the feet and legs or sores that are slow to heal. These symptoms do not mean that the person has diabetes, but anyone with these problems should definitely see a doctor.

A person with diabetes may actually show no symptoms. Type 2 diabetes, in particular, develops slowly, even for years before it is diagnosed. When symptoms develop, they vary from person to person. The two symptoms that occur in most people with the disease are increased thirst and frequent urination.

The way these symptoms develop differs for Type I and Type II diabetes. In Type I diabetes, they usually show up slowly in children or adolescents over a period of a few days or weeks. In Type II diabetes, symptoms develop even more slowly, over a period of years - in adults over the age of forty.

Adults often do not realize they have diabetes mellitus. The condition may only be discovered maybe during a routine physical examination for some other ailment.

Recent studies indicate that the early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing the complications of diabetes.

Type - 1 diabetes symptoms:

Symptoms of Type - I diabetes often come suddenly and very severely. They include:

?exceptional thirst (polydipsia)

?dry mouth

?frequent urination (polyuria)

?weight loss

?feeling weak and tired

?blurred vision

Type - 2 diabetes symptoms:

Mostly, people with Type 2 diabetes don't notice any symptoms, or the symptoms are experienced gradually. They include:

?blurred vision

?cuts or wounds that heal slowly

?itchy skin

?increased thirst

?dry mouth

?frequent urination

?leg pain

Gestational diabetes symptoms:

?increased thirst

?increased urination

?weight loss in spite of good appetite

?fatigue and weakness

?nausea and vomiting

?frequent infections including those of the bladder, vagina and skin

?blurred vision

?irritability

Other warning symptoms of diabetes mellitus include:

?Flu-like symptoms - like a viral illness, along with fatigue, weakness and loss of appetite.

?Weight gain or loss ? as the body is trying to compensate for lost fluids and sugar, one tends to eat more than usual and gain weight. On the other hand, one may also eat more than normal, but still lose weight because the muscle tissues don't get enough glucose to generate growth and energy.

In fact, most people with type 1 diabetes are at or below their normal weight.

?Blurred vision - high levels of blood sugar draw out fluid from the tissues in the body including the lenses of the eyes. For most people this causes only mild vision problems. Nevertheless, for others, the effects may be much more serious, even blindness.

?Slow healing sores or frequent infection - bladder and vaginal infections can be a particular problem for women.

?Nerve damage (neuropathy) ? excess sugar in blood can lead to loss of sensation in hands and feet. One may also experience burning pain in legs, feet, arms and hands. Many men, above the age of 50 and older with diabetes may experience some degree of sexual dysfunction from damage to the nerves that help produce an erection.

?Swollen and tender gums - Diabetes increases the risk of infection in gums and in the bones that hold teeth in place. One may also develop sores or pockets of pus in gums.

?Frequent yeast infections.

?Velvety dark skin changes of the neck, armpit and groin, called acanthosis nigricans.

?Numbness and tingling of the hands and feet

?Impotency

Diabetes sometimes goes unrecognized early, because people usually think they are urinating more, simply because they are drinking more.

It is better to get oneself checked by a doctor before one starts restricting his fluid intake.

If one has any of these symptoms, contact a professional doctor right away to be tested. Even people with pre-diabetes can have an increased risk from heart disease as seen in people with diabetes.