Diabetes Symptoms

Diabetes Symptoms

It is estimated that 21 million people in the United States suffer from diabetes; unfortunately, not all of them know that they have the disease. One of the difficulties in diagnosing diabetes is that, quite often, diabetes symptoms go unnoticed. Knowing you have diabetes is the first step to learning how to live with diabetes and taking measures to lead a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, it is of great importance to know not only what causes diabetes, but to learn the signs of diabetes, and, if you exhibit the signs, to visit your doctor for a proper diagnosis.

To learn more about this disease please visit our comprehensive overview of diabetes and diabetes symptoms.

Diabetes symptoms can vary in severity and length of onset depending on which type of diabetes is present:

Type I diabetes symptoms can be more noticeable or severe than those in type II diabetes. Type I diabetes, also referred to as juvenile onset diabetes, most commonly occurs in children and young adults. What causes type I diabetes is as yet unknown, but it occurs when the immune system attacks the insulin-producing part of pancreas. Insulin is the hormone that helps the body process glucose, or sugar; without insulin sugar builds up in the bloodstream, which if left untreated can lead to serious health problems including heart disease, kidney disease, eye disease, and nerve disease.

Because type I diabetes symptoms can resemble those caused by other medical problems, it is important that, if you have these symptoms, you consult with your physician. Type I diabetes symptoms include the following:

• Increased thirst
• Increased urination
• Constant hunger
• Unexplained weight loss
• Blurred vision
• Feeling fatigued

Type II diabetes symptoms are more subtle than those of type I diabetes; indeed, the disease may not exhibit any symptoms at all. Type II diabetes occurs either when the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin, or when the body lacks the ability to properly use the insulin that's produced. The result is too much sugar in the blood, which can lead to severe complications including heart attacks, stroke, blindness, kidney disease/failure, nerve damage and loss of extremities or parts of extremities due to poor blood flow.

Type II diabetes symptoms include:

• Wounds/sores heal very slowly
• Nausea
• Frequent yeast infections
• Increased thirst
• Increased urination
• Fatigue/feeling tired
• Unexplained weight loss
• Blurred vision

Gestational diabetes can occur during the second trimester of pregnancy. Also known as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), this disease is caused by hormones released by the placenta in susceptible individuals. In the majority of cases there are no obvious gestational diabetes symptoms, so it is recommended that all pregnant women be tested during the 24th and 28th week of their pregnancy.

Prediabetes or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) is a condition in which a person's blood sugar level is high, but not to the point where they can be diagnosed with diabetes. Because there are no easily detected prediabetes symptoms, it's important to understand the risk factors of this disorder. Being overweight or obese, leading an inactive lifestyle, being age 45 or older (although this condition is occurring with greater frequency in children and young adults), having had gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, and high lipids. Race may also play a factor, as African-Americans, Latinos/Hispanics, and American Indians have a higher rate of prediabetes than those from other races. If you have any of these risk factors it is recommended that you see a physician for proper testing, as untreated prediabetes is a significant risk factor for development of type II diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

What Causes Diabetes?

What causes diabetes depends on the type of the disease; for instance, the cause of type I diabetes differs from what causes diabetes type II. As mentioned previously, there may be a genetic predisposition to type I diabetes. Some environmental factors, such as viral infections, may play a role. In addition, you may be at risk for type 1 diabetes if you suffer from other hormonal problems such as hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's or Addison's disease.

Type II diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes, is far more common than type I. What causes type II diabetes is similar to what causes prediabetes - most likely a combination of a number of factors both environmental and genetic. People with family members who suffer from type II diabetes or conditions associated with type II diabetes (obesity and high blood pressure, for example) are more likely to develop the disease than those of a similar weight and age with no family history of diabetes or diabetes-related conditions. Environmental factors that may cause type II diabetes include a high-fat diet and lack of exercise. In addition, there are several endocrine system disorders that can affect the pancreas's ability to produce insulin, including hyperthyroidism and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Please visit our diabetes resource page to download additional information about what causes diabetes.

Editors:

Abbas Kitabchi, MD

Guillermo Umpierrez, MD

March 2008

The Hormone Foundation

The Hormone Foundation, acting as the public education affiliate of The Endocrine Society, is dedicated to providing up-to-date information regarding the endocrine system and endocrine system disorders. By working closely with the Society and the endocrinologists involved, and having direct access to the results of their research, the Foundation is able to translate and provide useful information regarding diabetes symptoms, what causes diabetes, and treatment options to patients who suffer from diabetes and those in danger of contracting the disease. In addition, the Hormone Foundation works to build awareness of endocrine system disorders in the general public, the media, and the scientific community.

Additional Information About the Endocrine System:

What Is a Normal Thyroid Size?

Types of Hormones

Premature Menopause Symptoms