The early symptoms of diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes can be subtle or seemingly harmless. Over time, however, you may develop diabetes complications, even if you haven’t had diabetes symptoms.

The warning symptoms can be so mild that you don’t notice them. That’s especially true of type 2 diabetes. Some people don’t find out they have it until they get problems from long-term damage caused by the disease.

With type 1 diabetes, the symptoms usually happen quickly, in a matter of days or a few weeks. They’re much more severe, too.

The early symptoms of diabetes are not always noticeable. Also, many people are asymptomatic and can remain undiagnosed for a long time. If you think you may be experiencing any of these early signs, make an appointment with your doctor.

Symptoms of Diabetes

Both types of diabetes have some of the same tell-tale warning symptoms:

• Excessive thirst and increased urination

Excessive thirst (also called polydipsia) and increased urination (also known as polyuria) are classic diabetes symptoms.

When you have diabetes, excess sugar (glucose) builds up in your blood. Your kidneys are forced to work overtime to filter and absorb the excess sugar. If your kidneys can’t keep up, the excess sugar is excreted into your urine, dragging along fluids from your tissues. This triggers more frequent urination, which may leave you dehydrated. As you drink more fluids to quench your thirst, you’ll urinate even more.

 

• Fatigue

You may feel fatigued. Many factors can contribute to this. They include dehydration from increased urination and your body’s inability to function properly since it’s less able to use sugar for energy needs.

 

• Weight loss

Weight fluctuations also fall under the umbrella of possible diabetes signs and symptoms. When you lose sugar through frequent urination, you also lose calories. At the same time, diabetes may keep the sugar from your food from reaching your cells — leading to constant hunger. The combined effect is potentially rapid weight loss, especially if you have type 1 diabetes.

 

• Blurred vision

Diabetes symptoms sometimes involve your vision. High levels of blood sugar pull fluid from your tissues, including the lenses of your eyes. This affects your ability to focus.

Left untreated, diabetes can cause new blood vessels to form in your retina — the back part of your eye — and damage established vessels. For most people, these early changes do not cause vision problems. However, if these changes progress undetected, they can lead to vision loss and blindness.

 

• Slow-healing sores or frequent infections

Doctors and people with diabetes have observed that infections seem more common if you have diabetes. Research in this area, however, has not proved whether this is entirely true, nor why. It may be that high levels of blood sugar impair your body’s natural healing process and your ability to fight infections. For women, bladder and vaginal infections are especially common.

 

• Tingling hands and feet

Excess sugar in your blood can lead to nerve damage. You may notice tingling and loss of sensation in your hands and feet, as well as burning pain in your arms, hands, legs, and feet.

 

• Red, swollen, tender gums

Diabetes may weaken your ability to fight germs, which increases the risk of infection in your gums and in the bones that hold your teeth in place. Your gums may pull away from your teeth, your teeth may become loose, or you may develop sores or pockets of pus in your gums — especially if you have a gum infection before diabetes develops.
 

Conclusion

If you notice any possible diabetes symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. The earlier the condition is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can begin. Diabetes is a serious condition. But with your active participation and the support of your health care team, you can manage diabetes while enjoying an active, healthy life.

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