Care Guides - Step 3: Symptoms of diabetes

Return to Index Step 1: Taking Charge Step 2: What is Diabetes?Step 3: Symptoms of Diabetes Step 4: Diagnosing Diabetes Step 5: Your Management Program Step 6: Use Insulin Every Day Step 7: Follow a Meal Plan Step 8: Monitor Blood Glucose Step 9: Exercise is Important!Step 10: Recognize Medical Emergencies Step 11: Long-Term Complications Step 12: Maintain Regular Check-ups Step 13: The Healthcare Team Key Points Glossary

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Step 3: Symptoms of diabetes

People with type 1 diabetes usually have a number of the following symptoms:

Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Unexplained weight loss
Extreme hunger
Sudden vision changes
Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
Feeling very tired much of the time
Very dry skin
Sores that are slow to heal
More infections than usual
Nausea, vomiting, and stomach pains

Not everyone will notice drastic symptoms -- the symptoms may be subtle or go unnoticed at first. In some cases, the first symptom is frequent yeast infections.

Type 1 diabetes occurs when a person's own immune system gradually attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. As these cells are destroyed, insulin production drops, eventually stopping completely.

NormalDiabetesReset

Click to see the difference between normal cells and diabetes.

Therefore, people with type 1 diabetes must use insulin daily. If they miss their injections or take too much, the levels of glucose in the blood can fluctuate out of control, getting very high or very low and leading to emergency medical situations.

This possibility is not something that should make you live in constant fear. When you learn to monitor and control blood glucose level, which includes careful meal and snack planning, you will become a confident expert at keeping yourself (or your child) healthy.

Did You Know... ?

The first child received insulin in 1922.

The symptom list is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

References

The symptom list is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/faq/basics.htm).

American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes--2009. Diabetes Care. 2009 Jan;32 Suppl 1:S13-61.

Review Date: 6/24/2011
Reviewed By: Nancy J. Rennert, MD, FACE, FACP, Chief of Endocrinology & Diabetes, Norwalk Hospital, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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