Type 1 diabetes is different to its more common counterpart,

type 2 diabetes

Whilst the major symptoms of diabetes are similar for type 1 and type 2, it is worth knowing the specific symptoms of type 1 diabetes as well as more

general diabetes symptoms

• Also see:
  
  Type 1 diabetes

The 4Ts – symptoms of type 1 diabetes

Some of the most noticeable and most common symptoms of type 1 diabetes are:

• 
  Excessive thirst
• 
  Unusually high levels of urination
• 
  Feeling tired all the time
• 
  Loss of muscular bulk and unexplained weight loss

The main symptoms of type 1 diabetes are often referred to as the

4Ts of type 1 diabetes

Other symptoms which may accompany the above symptoms are:

• 
  Itchiness around the penis or vagina
• 
  Blurring of vision
  (caused by dryness of the eyes)
• Unexpected cramping
• Skin infections

Emergency diabetes symptoms

Seek urgent medical attention if diabetes symptoms combine with any of the following:

• A serious loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• A temperature
• Pains in the stomach
• A fruity, chemical smell on the breath (most often likened to pear drops or nail varnish)

The symptoms above could be a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a dangerous condition that can be life threatening if medical treatment is not provided immediately.

Around 1 in 4 people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes are suffering with ketoacidosis at the time of diagnosis. Recognising the 4 main symptoms of type 1 diabetes can help to get a diagnosis before ketoacidosis sets in.

• Read more on
  
  ketoacidosis

Common symptoms of diabetes

Polydipsia

Polyuria

Polyphagia

Fatigue

Dizziness

Weight Loss

Blurred Vision

Slow Healing

Genital Itchiness

Nausea

How long does it take to develop type 1 symptoms?

The symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children and young adults tend to develop quickly over a few weeks or few days.

Type 1 diabetes is a dangerous condition if it is left untreated for too long. It is therefore important to seek a

diagnosis
from your doctor if you or your child is showing the symptoms of type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age. Adults may develop a specific form of type 1 diabetes known as

LADA (latent autoimmune diabetes of adulthood)

LADA tends to develop more slowly than type 1 diabetes in children and young adults and people with LADA may sometimes be misdiagnosed as having type 2 diabetes.

Can a blood glucose meter help to diagnose type 1 diabetes?

A blood glucose meter may be helpful in indicating whether you or a family member may have diabetes.

It is not essential to have a blood glucose meter but it may be considered useful in a family with a history of type 1 diabetes or autoimmune conditions.

A blood glucose result, taken over 2 hours after eating, of

over 7.8 mmol/l

could indicate a presence of diabetes.

If high results are being recorded 2 hours after eating for consecutive meals, contact your GP who will be able to carry out a

diagnosis

It is important that devices used to draw blood from fingers are not shared to prevent the risk of blood borne illnesses.

• See our guide on
  
  how to do a home blood glucose test
  
  
  

Type 2 diabetes symptoms will often develop gradually and may not always show symptoms at an earlier stage.

Type 2 diabetes symptoms can differ slightly from symptoms of

type 1 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong condition. Once

symptoms of diabetes
have developed into the condition, the body will then be unable to regulate the amount of glucose in the blood.

It is important to catch the symptoms as early as possible to limit damage to the body.

Although there are

3 main diabetes signs
shared by all people with diabetes, type 2 diabetes may sometimes exhibit some specific symptoms, such as certain skin disorders.

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes
often develops slowly, over a period of years, and the symptoms can therefore also develop gradually.

At diagnosis, people who have type 2 diabetes may show little or no symptoms of the condition.

Because the symptoms develop slowly, type 2 diabetes may commonly be diagnosed following routine medical examinations or screening tests for non-related conditions.

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes may include:

• 
  Feeling tired during the day, particularly after meals (fatigue)
• 
  Often feeling hungry, particularly if you feel hungry shortly after eating (polyphagia)
• 
  Urinating more often than normal, particular needing to do so during the night (polyuria)
• 
  Feeling abnormally thirsty (polydipsia)
• 
  Blurred vision
• 
  Itching of the skin, particularly itchiness around the genitals (genital itchiness)
• 
  Slow healing of cuts or wounds
• 
  Having regular yeast infections (thrush)
• Having a skin disorder such as psoriasis or
  
  acanthosis nigricans
• 
  Sudden weight loss or loss of muscle mass

Explore the most common symptoms of diabetes:

Common symptoms of diabetes

Polydipsia

Polyuria

Polyphagia

Fatigue

Dizziness

Weight Loss

Blurred Vision

Slow Healing

Genital Itchiness

Nausea

Spotting the symptoms of type 2 diabetes

The presence of type 2 diabetes prevents the body from being able to lower blood glucose levels as efficiently as in people without diabetes. For this reason, the symptoms of type 2 diabetes may be more noticeable following meals.

Measuring higher than normal levels of

blood pressure
or

cholesterol
may indicate a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, particularly if you are overweight and it is therefore wise to be aware of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

How long does it take for the symptoms of type 2 diabetes to develop?

Type 2 diabetes symptoms may be very minor for a long time, and suddenly become more serious.

This is why type 2 diabetes often goes unnoticed for many years. It is believed that

up to 850,000 adults could have type 2 diabetes and be unaware of it

It’s important not to disregard the symptoms of diabetes as being down to getting older.

Catching the symptoms early

It is important to catch the symptoms early so that the damage caused by type 2 damage is limited.

If type 2 diabetes is caught at a later stage, some of the

complications
may be present at diagnosis, such as:

• 
  Neuropathy
• 
  Retinopathy
• 
  Nephropathy

Type 2 diabetes can also lead to a significant loss of the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. This is referred to beta cell turnover.

Catching and treating type 2 diabetes early can help to prevent a significant loss of insulin producing cells, which may help to prevent or delay a need to take

insulin injections.

Can I reverse type 2 diabetes?

The body is indeed able to ‘reverse’ or put type 2 diabetes into remission. This is acheived by reducing HbA1c to under the diagnosis threshold. However, unhealthy habits can cause this to relapse.

The main symptoms of diabetes are significantly increased thirst, needing to urinate more often than usual and increased hunger.

Common symptoms of diabetes

Polydipsia

Polyuria

Polyphagia

Fatigue

Dizziness

Weight Loss

Blurred Vision

Slow Healing

Genital Itchiness

Nausea

If you notice that you have some or all of these symptoms, contact your GP immediately.

How fast do the symptoms of diabetes develop?

Knowing and recognising the symptoms of diabetes is essential. Catching diabetes at an early stage can delay or prevent the development of serious complications.

Type 1 diabetes

In type 1 diabetes, the signs and symptoms can develop very quickly, and can develop significantly over the course of weeks or even days – particularly in children or adolescents.

In addition to the symptoms above, symptoms of type 1 diabetes can also include dry mouth.

In children and younger adults, signs such as increased urination, increased thirst, tiredness and sudden weight loss tend to be the most noticeable symptoms.

Having history of type 1 diabetes in your family increases the chances of developing type 1 diabetes.

• Read more about the symptoms of type 1 diabetes
• Speak to a community of people with type 1 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes tends to develop more slowly, usually over a period of months or even years. It can also lead on from pre-diabetes.

The symptoms can appear very gradually, which can make spotting the signs more difficult.

In addition to the symptoms above, symptoms of type 2 diabetes can include dry mouth and leg pain.

• Read more about the symptoms of type 2 diabetes
• You may also want to try the type 2 diabetes risk test
• Speak to a community of people with type 2 diabetes

It is not uncommon for people to live with type 2 diabetes for years without being aware of their condition.

These cases of undiagnosed diabetes may sometimes only be picked up during a routine medical check-up.

Where can I get tested for diabetes?

If you have any of the symptoms listed above and think you may have diabetes, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Your GP will be able to carry out checks to determine whether or not you have diabetes.

Go to the doctor immediately to minimise the risk of complications

Spotting the signs of diabetes early on is vital and can help prevent the development of serious complications.

The earlier diabetes is diagnosed, the earlier it can be treated and controlled which, in turn, will reduce the risk of complications.

In people with type 1 diabetes, a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis is common. If untreated, this can result in extremely serious complications and even death, but it can be the first indicator of the presence of type 1 diabetes.

This occurs when acid compounds, ketones, form in the blood. A doctor testing you for type 1 diabetes may also wish to test for ketones to prevent ketoacidosis occurring.

If type 2 diabetes is left undiagnosed for a number of years, it could lead to the development of the following prior to diagnosis:

• Nerve damage – neuropathy
• Retinal damage – retinopathy or
• Kidney damage – nephropathy

Hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state is a condition that may occur if type 2 diabetes develops without medical treatment.

Read more about how diabetes affects the body.

Buying a blood glucose meter for peace of mind

More than 4 million people in the UK have been diagnosed with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, while up to half a million more are believed to have undiagnosed diabetes.

With prevalence of diabetes on the rise, more and more people are purchasing blood glucose meters simply for peace of mind.

A blood glucose meter gives users an accurate idea of their blood glucose levels, allowing them to check that they are within the recommended target ranges.

For people without diabetes, blood sugar readings should ideally be between:

• 4 and 6 mmol/L before meals
• Under 8 mmol/L two hours after meals

Read more about the recommended blood glucose level ranges.

Because diabetes is such a diverse disease with many

complications, it can cause dizziness in many ways by affecting different parts of the body.

Dizziness is an episode of unsteadiness and unbalance as a result of something

affecting the brain
or ears.

However, dizziness can also be a symptom of many things other than diabetes. So if you are experiencing recurrent dizzy spells, you should contact your doctor who will be able to diagnose the cause.

Causes of dizziness

A dizzy spell can be brought on by many things, but in cases of diabetes the most common causes are:

Low blood pressure

Dizziness can be cause by the

heart’s inability to pump blood
up to the brain sufficiently, especially when suddenly standing up from a sitting or a lying position.

As the blood momentarily fails to reach the brain, a spinning sensation, unsteadiness or even fainting can occur.

Dehydration

High blood sugar levels
(hyperglycemia)

can cause polyuria, which in turn can lead to dehydration by passing too much fluid out of the body in an attempt to remove excess glucose.

With low levels of water in the body, the brain may struggle to function correctly and cause light headedness.

Hypoglycemia

Having a

low amount of sugar in your blood
(hypoglycemia) can lead to dizziness by causing the brain cells to malfunction.

Certain medications

Some medications, including those used to treat people with diabetes, can cause dizzy spells. The instruction leaflet that

comes with a medicine
will list any possible side effects of the drug.

When to see your doctor

If you are suffering from bouts of dizziness that are recurrent or persistent you should go and see a doctor. They will likely ask questions to gauge whether there is a pattern to the feelings of dizziness, so keeping a record of dizzy spells prior to your appointment may be helpful.

Common symptoms of diabetes

Polydipsia

Polyuria

Polyphagia

Fatigue

Dizziness

Weight Loss

Blurred Vision

Slow Healing

Genital Itchiness

Nausea

Most, if not all of us will be familiar with the feeling of nausea, which is basically the feeling of needing to be sick, felt in the stomach area.

Both nausea and vomiting can be a sign of a number of underlying health conditions, including diabetes.

When there is an issue that can affect the stomach or gastric system of their body, people can feel sick.

Even if it is a fairly tenuous connectio, such as

angina affecting blood flow, the sufferer may still feel queasy.

Causes of nausea

Both type 1 diabetes and

type 2 diabetes
can cause nausea or vomiting in several ways.

Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia

As the

blood glucose levels rise
and

fall, the body’s metabolism can get interrupted and confused which can lead to a mixed feeling of nausea.

Low blood pressure (Hypotension)

Low blood pressure often

leads to dizzy spells which, for some people, can induce a feeling of nausea as the world appears to spin around them.

Certain medications

The side effect of a lot of drugs is a feeling of nausea, and even vomiting. Metformin, the most widely used diabetes drug, is known to

have nauseating side effects

Gastroparesis

Due to

neuropathy, the body may not be able to

move food from the stomach or along the intestines

This can cause a back log of food, which can result in sickness.

Bezoars

Bezoars are stone like

formations created from undigested food matter, which can block the gastro-intestinal track and stop food processing and digesting.

This can eventually cause nausea and vomiting.

When to see your doctor

If you are having recurrent or consistent bouts of nausea or vomiting, then it is a good idea to go and see your doctor to get the issue sorted as soon as possible.

Keeping a diary of nausea or vomiting episodes and what you ate or were doing beforehand may help the doctor in determining the underlying cause of your nausea.

Common symptoms of diabetes

Polydipsia

Polyuria

Polyphagia

Fatigue

Dizziness

Weight Loss

Blurred Vision

Slow Healing

Genital Itchiness

Nausea

A hypo happens when your blood sugar level drops too low (under 4.0 mmols/l on your blood glucose meter). Read this with your parents so you know what the signs of a hypo are.

Hypo signs

Hypos can sometimes feel quite scary and may happen when you’re at

school

, at home or

playing sports

You may feel one or more of the following hypo signs:

• Feeling tired
• Suddenly feeling either hot or cold for no real reason
• Feeling very hungry
• Having a headache
• Feeling sick
• A tingling feeling in your hands, lips or tongue
• Not being able to think or talk properly
• Feeling weak and finding it harder to move than usual
• Not feeling in a good mood

Treating hypos

If you feel low on sugar, have something sugary to eat, such as:

• 3 or 4 glucose tablets
• Some sweets
• A few sugar lumps

You can have a sugary drink but it’s easy to drink too much when low so it’s often best to stick to sweets and sugar.

Unless you have a hypo just before a meal, it’s worth having a little bit of longer acting carbs to stop you going low later on. Longer acting carbs could include crackers or a piece of fruit.

Hypos can happen to people with type 1 or

type 2 diabetes

Low or high?

You may also feel some of the hypo signs when you have high sugar levels as well, so if you feel well enough to, it’s worth doing a blood test to see what your sugar levels are.

After a hypo

After some time has passed since the hypo you may need to test your sugar levels to see how your sugar levels are.

Night time hypos

You can go hypo at night some times.

If you wake up still feeling very tired or with a headache, it could be that you’re having hypos during the night. If this is happening let your parents or doctor know.

If you are having hypos during the night your doctor or parents may change your insulin dose or you may need to have a snack before bed to keep your sugar levels going low.

New words to remember:



Hypo, hypoglycaemia, glucose tablets, headaches, carbs

The symptoms of diabetes in men and women are generally similar but there are certain symptoms which are either unique to males or may be more noticeable in men.

If you are experiencing symptoms of diabetes, the NHS advises that you see a GP as soon as possible as early treatment of diabetes can prevent health complications developing.

Symptoms of diabetes specific to men

There are several symptoms of diabetes that are specific to males, including:

• 
  Reduced strength from loss of muscle mass
• 
  Recurrent episodes of thrush around the genitals
• 
  Itching of or around the penis
• 
  Erectile dysfunction

Reduced strength and loss of muscle mass

Unexplained loss of muscle mass may be a sign of high sugar levels and diabetes. If blood sugar levels remain at high levels for relatively long periods during the day, the body will start to break down fat and muscle for energy.

The

resulting weight loss
is usually most noticeable in people with type 1 diabetes.

However, it can also affect people with type 2 diabetes that has gone undiagnosed for a long period of time.

Recurrent genital thrush

Genital thrush is a

yeast infection
that can occur if blood sugar levels are high, causing sugar to be passed out via the urine.

Symptoms of genital thrush include:

• Redness on or around the head of the penis
• Swelling on or around the head of the penis
• Itching on or around the head of the penis
• Unpleasant odour
• A white curd-like appearance on the skin
• Soreness during sex

Erectile dysfunction

Charity Diabetes UK states that erectile dysfunction may be an indicator of undiagnosed diabetes.

Erectile difficulties can be caused by high blood sugar levels over a long period of time causing difficulties either with blood supply to the penis or from damage to nerves in the penis.

Erectile dysfunction is defined as the inability to either achieve or maintain an erection sufficiently well to satisfy sexual activity.

Women should be aware of the symptoms of gestational diabetes, a form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy and diabetes resulting from PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome).

If you notice the symptoms of diabetes, the NHS advises that you contact a GP as soon as possible.

Treating diabetes early can help to prevent further health complications.

What are the symptoms of diabetes that are specific to women?

Women may experience the following symptoms:

• 
  Thrush and yeast infections
• 
  Itchiness around the vagina
• 
  Female sexual dysfunction

This is over and above the general symptoms of diabetes, which include the following:

Common symptoms of diabetes

Polydipsia

Polyuria

Polyphagia

Fatigue

Dizziness

Weight Loss

Blurred Vision

Slow Healing

Genital Itchiness

Nausea

Thrush and yeast infections

Vaginal thrush
(vulvovaginal candidiasis) can be a symptom of diabetes as

high blood sugar levels
can cause glucose to be excreted via the urine.

Glucose in the urine can create a fertile breeding ground for yeast infections.

Symptoms of vaginal yeast infections include:

• Soreness and itching around the vagina
• Reddening of the skin
• A white curd like appearance on the skin
• White vaginal discharge
• Pain during intercourse

Oral yeast infections can also occur as a symptom of diabetes.

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD)

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) can cause difficulties in sexual activity in the following ways:

• Lack of sex drive
• Difficulty with arousal and achieving orgasm
• Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia)

High blood sugar levels over a period of time can lead to poor blood supply and/or nerve damage which can lead to problems with arousal and achieving orgasm.

High blood sugar can also lead to a lack of natural lubrication in the vagina which can make sex difficult or painful.

Psychological reasons can be an alternative reason for

female sexual dysfunction

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a specific form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. The symptoms of gestational diabetes are the same as for other forms of diabetes.

Sometimes the symptoms may not be noticeable. For this reason, women are generally screened for gestational diabetes

between weeks 24 and 28

of their pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes
develops in about 3 to 5% of all pregnancies.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovary syndrome
is a condition in which the ovaries have a larger number of cysts on then normal.

The cysts are under-developed follicles containing eggs. The NHS notes that PCOS may be linked with higher levels of insulin in the body, which is more common in people who are overweight and people with type 2 diabetes.

Whilst a diagnosis of PCOS does not mean you have diabetes, it is linked with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.

Blood pressure control is important whether you have diabetes or not.

However, having high blood pressure is a key risk factor in developing

heart disease,

stroke
and other complications of diabetes.

Diabetes and high blood pressure are often associated, and many people with diabetes take medication to lower their blood pressure.

What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure means the pressure of blood in your arteries as it is being pumped by the heart.

Targets for people with type 1 diabetes

The targets for people with type 1 diabetes is to have a resting blood pressure level

below 135/85 mmHg

If you have signs of kidney disease or metabolic syndrome your blood pressure level should be

below 130/80 mmHg

Targets for people with type 2 diabetes

The target blood pressure targets for type 2 diabetes:

• Below
  
  140/80 mmHg
  
• Or below
  
  130/80 mmHg
  
  if you have kidney disease, retinopathy or have cerebrovascular disease (including stroke)

What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?

Most diabetics with high blood pressure have no symptoms.

However, very high blood pressure or rapidly rising blood pressure can cause:

• Headaches
• Vision problems
• Nose bleeds
• Trouble breathing
• Fits
• Black-outs

What are the symptoms of low blood pressure?

Similar to high blood pressure, the symptoms of low pressure may not always be apparent. If you do get symptoms, they may be identified as any of the following:

• Feeling dizzy, light headed or fainting
• Blurred vision
• A rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Feeling nauseous
• Confusion

What do blood pressure numbers mean?

Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury, as two figures, for example 124/80 mmHg.

• The first number (124 in this case) is known as
  
  systolic pressure
  
  – pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts.
• The second number (80 here) is
  
  diastolic pressure
  
  – the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests.

At what point does high blood pressure cause a problem for people with diabetes?

If your resting blood pressure level is above the targets, this puts you at an increased risk of heart and vascular problems as well as other

diabetes complications, such as

kidney disease
and sight damage (

retinopathy
).

High blood pressure is also associated with poor circulation which increases the risk of foot ulcers and can lead to foot amputation if regular foot care is not taken.

How is high blood pressure diagnosed?

Anxiety, stress or strenuous exercise can all cause temporary high blood pressure levels in both diabetics and non-diabetics. However, high blood pressure is diagnosed when you have several high readings.

Some people will find their heart beat rises, and therefore their blood pressure goes up, as a direct result of being tested. If you know this is happening, speak to the doctor or nurse as this should be taken into account.

It is possible to have blood pressure readings taken at home if this is known to be happening.

How is high blood pressure caused?

Too high blood pressure tends to result from a build up of cholesterol within the walls of blood vessels. This causes narrowing of the blood vessels, restricting blood flow and raising blood pressure.

Narrowed arteries raises the risk of heart problems and stroke if too little blood gets to these vital organs or if a blood clot blocks the blood flow to them.

Sometimes, other conditions can cause high blood pressure such as

diabetic nephropathy, kidney or hormone problems.

How common is high blood pressure amongst diabetics?

Approximately 3 in 10 people with

type 1 diabetes
and around 8 in 10 people with

type 2 diabetes
develop high blood pressure at some stage of their life.

The level of high blood pressure risk goes up for people of African-Caribbean or Indian origin.

Furthermore, risk increases for those who are

overweight, eat low fruit and vegetable levels, don’t take much exercise or drink regularly.

What tests are used to diagnose high blood pressure?

Urine tests can check for protein or blood in urine, blood tests can check kidney function or cholesterol, and an ECG can trace heartbeat.

I am diabetic, why should high blood pressure worry me?

High blood pressure increases risks of developing cardiovascular disease and kidney damage. High blood pressure may damage arteries and strain the heart over the years.

Other diabetes complications may be more common if you have high blood pressure, including diabetic retinopathy.

How can I lower blood pressure whilst managing my diabetes?

There are various ways to lower blood pressure, including modifying lifestyle and medication. Losing weight makes a big difference to blood pressure.

Taking regular physical exercise also makes a big difference to blood pressure. Lowering salt intake also makes a major difference to blood pressure, as does eating a more healthy diet in general.

Furthermore, cutting down alcohol and stopping smoking can also lower blood pressure amongst diabetics. Drug treatment is used in some instances, with several different drugs used to lower blood pressure.

Polydipsia is the term given to excessive thirst and is one of the initial symptoms of diabetes. It is also usually accompanied by

temporary or prolonged dryness of the mouth

We all get thirsty at various times during the day. Adequate daily intake of water (several glasses) is very important as water is essential for many bodily functions, including regulating body temperature and removing waste.

However, if you feel thirsty all the time or your thirst is stronger than usual and continues even after you drink, it can be a sign that not all is well inside your body.

Causes of polydipsia

Increased thirst is often the reaction to

fluid loss during exercise, or to eating salty or spicy foods. It can also be caused by:

• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Profuse sweating
• Significant blood loss or
• Certain prescription medications

Increased thirst can also occur as a

result of high blood sugar levels
in people with diabetes or yet to be diagnosed diabetes.

Persistent excessive thirst can be the result of one of the following:

• 
  Diabetes mellitus
• 
  Diabetes insipidus
  – a condition unrelated to diabetes mellitus that affects the kidneys and the hormones that interact with them, resulting in large quantities of urine being produced
• 
  Dehydration
• Loss of body fluids from the bloodstream into the tissues due to: burns or severe infections (sepsis) or heart, liver, or
  
  kidney failure
• Psychogenic polydipsia – compulsive water drinking associated with mental/psychiatric disorders

Excessive thirst can be caused by high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), and is also one of the

‘Big 3’ signs of diabetes mellitus

Increased thirst and diabetes

Increased thirst in people with diabetes can sometimes be, but certainly not always, an indication of

higher than normal blood glucose levels

People with diabetes with access to

blood glucose testing equipment
may wish to test their blood sugar levels when they are thirsty to determine whether their blood sugar levels are going too high.

If you do not have blood glucose testing equipment and are experiencing regular thirst which you think may be connected with your diabetes, speak with your health team who should be able to advise you.

Recognising symptoms of polydipsia

As anyone and everyone will have experienced the sensation of feeling thirsty, it is very important not to jump to conclusions.

However, the symptoms of polydipsia are recognised as:

• Having persistent and unexplained thirst, regardless of how much you drink
• Passing more than 5 litres of urine a day

When to see your doctor

If you have diabetes and experience increased thirst for a number of days, you should

make an appointment to see your doctor/healthcare team

If you don’t have diabetes, you should see a doctor if the reason for thirst cannot be explained and particularly if you have other symptoms of diabetes – in paticular

polyuria
and

polyphagia

Common symptoms of diabetes

Polydipsia

Polyuria

Polyphagia

Fatigue

Dizziness

Weight Loss

Blurred Vision

Slow Healing

Genital Itchiness

Nausea

Polyphagia is the medical term used to describe excessive hunger or increased appetite and is one of the 3 main signs of diabetes.

An increase in hunger is usually a response


to normal things such as intensive exercise or other strenuous activity, but polyphagia can also be the result of more severe issues such as

depression
or stress.

Also known as

hyperphagia
, it is one of the three main symptoms of diabetes, along with:

• 
  Polydipsia
  (increased thirst) and
• 
  Polyuria
  (frequent, excessive urination)

Causes of polyphagia

Polyphagia can be caused by:

• 
  Diabetes mellitus
• 
  Hypoglycemia
  (low blood sugar levels)
• 
  Hyperglycemia
  (high blood sugar levels)
• 
  Anxiety
• 
  Stress
• 
  Depression
• 
  Bulimia
• 
  Binge eating disorder
• Hyperthyroidism (raised level of thyroid hormone)
• 
  Premenstrual syndrome
• Certain prescription drugs such as
  
  corticosteroids
• Some psychiatric conditions
• Rare medical conditions such as Kleine-Levin Syndrome and Prader-Willi Syndrome

Hunger and hyperglycemia

In uncontrolled diabetes where blood glucose levels remain abnormally high (

hyperglycemia
), glucose from the blood cannot enter the cells – due to either a lack of insulin or

insulin resistance
– so the body can’t convert the food you eat into energy.

This lack of energy causes an increase in hunger.

Simply eating will not get rid of the hungry feeling of polyphagia in people with uncontrolled diabetes, as this will just add to the already high blood glucose levels. The best way to lower blood glucose levels is to exercise as this can help to stimulate insulin production and

reduce blood sugar levels

However, if the hunger persists, you may need to consult your doctor or diabetes health care team.

Hunger and hypoglycemia

Increased appetite can also be caused by abnormally low blood glucose (hypoglycemia).

If blood glucose readings fall below 4 mmol/l, the body usually responds by releasing stored

glucose from the liver
to raise glucose levels back to normal.

However, people with diabetes that take medication such as insulin and sulfonylureas are at risk of developing a

severe form of hypoglycemia
and should therefore treat low blood glucose levels by eating something sweet as soon as hypoglycemia is recognised.

• Read more on
  
  treating hypoglycemia

Recognising the symptoms of polyphagia

The main sign of polyphagia is excessive hunger that doesn’t go away by simply

eating more food
or eating more regularly than normal.

If you are worried by your sudden increase in appetite, you should consult your doctor. They will examine you to check whether your hunger is a symptom of diabetes or another medical condition.

Common symptoms of diabetes

Polydipsia

Polyuria

Polyphagia

Fatigue

Dizziness

Weight Loss

Blurred Vision

Slow Healing

Genital Itchiness

Nausea

Polyuria is a condition where the body urinates more than usual and passes excessive or abnormally large amounts of urine each time you urinate.

Polyuria is defined as the frequent passage of large volumes of urine –

more than 3 litres a day

compared to the normal daily urine output in adults of about 1 to 2 litres.

It is one of the main symptoms of diabetes (both

type 1
and

type 2 diabetes)
and can lead to severe dehydration, which if left untreated can affect kidney function.

Causes of polyuria

Polyuria is usually the result of drinking excessive amounts of fluids
(polydipsia),
particularly water and fluids that contain caffeine or

alcohol.

It is also one of the

major signs of diabetes mellitus.
When the kidneys filter blood to make urine, they reabsorb all of the sugar, returning it to the bloodstream.

In diabetes, the level of sugar in the blood is abnormally high. Not all of the sugar can be reabsorbed and some of this excess glucose from the blood ends up in the urine where it draws more water.

This results in unusually large volumes of urine.

Other causes of polyuria include:

• 
  Diabetes inspidus
  – a condition unrelated to diabetes mellitus that affects the kidneys and the hormones that interact with them, resulting in large quantities of urine being produced
• 
  Kidney disease
• 
  Liver failure
• 
  Medications
  that include diuretics (substances that increase the excretion of water from the body/urine)
• 
  Chronic diarrhoea
• 
  Cushing’s syndrome
• Psychogenic
  
  polydipsia
  – excessive water drinking most often seen in anxious, middle-aged women and in patients with psychiatric illnesses
• Hypercalcemia – elevated levels of calcium in the blood
• 
  Pregnancy

Polyuria as a symptom of diabetes

As well as being one of the symptoms of undiagnosed diabetes, polyuria can also occur in people with diagnosed diabetes if blood glucose levels have risen too high.

If blood glucose levels become too high, the body will try to remedy the situation by removing glucose from the blood through the kidneys. When this happens, the

kidneys will also filter out more water
and you will need to urinate more than usual as a result.

If you are frequently experiencing an increased need to urinate, it could be a sign that your sugar levels are too high. If you have

access to blood glucose testing strips, you may wish to

test your sugar levels
if you are urinating more often than normal.

If you have diabetes but don’t have blood glucose testing supplies, you may wish to note down how often you are urinating and discuss this with your health team.

Your health team should be able to advise whether the problem may be related to diabetes and any remedial action you can take.

Recognising the symptoms of polyuria

The most common sign of polyuria is producing abnormally large volumes of urine at regular intervals throughout the day and at night.

If you are concerned about the amount you urinate and think you may have polyuria, you should make a note each day of

how much you drink;
how often you urinate and how much urine you produce every time you go to the toilet.

When to see your doctor about polyuria

You should consult your doctor if you have excessive urination over several days that cannot be explained by an increase in fluids or

medications.

Common symptoms of diabetes

Polydipsia

Polyuria

Polyphagia

Fatigue

Dizziness

Weight Loss

Blurred Vision

Slow Healing

Genital Itchiness

Nausea

One of the common signs of diabetes mellitus is blurred vision, which refers to the loss of sharpness of vision and the inability to see fine details.

Blurred vision can affect one eye (unilateral blurred vision) or both (bilateral blurred vision) eyes, and can occur often or rarely.

Regardless of how often it occurs, it should never go untreated as it could be an indicator of another, more serious

eye problem

Causes of blurred vision

Blurred vision can occur by simply forgetting to wear your prescribed corrective lenses. But in many cases, it is usually a sign of an underlying eye disease.

Eye diseases include:

• Age-related macular degeneration
• 
  Glaucoma
• 
  High blood sugar levels

Other causes of blurry vision include:

• 
  Cataracts
  and other eye conditions such as conjunctivitis, dry eye syndromen, and retinal detachment
• 
  Certain medications
  (including cortisone, some antidepressants and some heart medications)
• 
  Diabetes mellitus
• 
  Stroke
• Migraines

Diabetes and blurred vision

High levels of blood sugar
resulting from diabetes can affect your ability to see by causing the lens inside the eye to swell, which can result in temporary blurring of eyesight.

Blurring of vision may also occur as a

result of very low blood sugar levels
If this is the case, your vision should return once your blood glucose levels have returned to the normal range.

If your

blood sugar levels are fluctuating
over time, you may notice that your vision improves and worsens for periods of time.

Recognising blurred vision

There are various different interpretations/understandings of what blurred vision is, but in most cases the term is used to describe the inability to see fine details and a lack of sharpness of vision.

When to see your doctor

If you’re experiencing sudden blurred vision together with eye pain, you should

go see your doctor and have your eye(s) checked

If your vision has become blurred over time, it could be a sign of an underlying condition, which could be diabetes amongst other possible causes.

Your doctor should be able to help distinguish why your vision may have worsened.

Common symptoms of diabetes

Polydipsia

Polyuria

Polyphagia

Fatigue

Dizziness

Weight Loss

Blurred Vision

Slow Healing

Genital Itchiness

Nausea

In the medical world, extreme tiredness and exhaustion that doesn’t disappear with rest or sleep is known as fatigue and this can be a telling symptom of diabetes.

Causes of fatigue

There are many things that can cause you to fell fatigued. The most common and obvious is a lack of sleep.

Most adults need

between 6 and 8 hours of sleep a day
, but this can vary quite a lot from person to person. It’s also important to remember that most people require less sleep as they get older.

Other common causes of fatigue include:

• Anaemia –  a condition that occurs when you don’t have enough red blood cells
• 
  Cancer
  – most types of cancer cause fatigue to a certain degree
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – a condition that causes unexplained exhaustion and fatigue
• 
  Depression
  – constant tiredness is a major indicator of depression or emotional stress
• 
  Diabetes
  – sudden and extreme tiredness is one of the main symptoms of diabetes mellitus
• Infections – fatigue can be brought on by various infections such as the
  
  flu
  (influenza)
• 
  Coeliac Disease
  – an autoimmune condition in which inflammation in the lining of the small intestine affects the body’s ability to absorb nutrients properly.

Diabetes and fatigue

With diabetes, fatigue is caused by a number of factors, including:

• High blood sugar levels, either from a
  
  lack of the insulin horomone
  or from
  
  insulin resistance, can affect the body’s ability to get glucose from the blood into cells to meet our energy needs
• People on stronger diabetes medication such as insulin, may also experience fatigue as a symptom of
  
  low blood glucose levels

• 
  Blood glucose testing
  can help to determine whether high or low sugar levels may be the cause of fatigue.

Recognising fatigue

Symptoms of fatigue include:

• A lack of, or no energy
• Difficulty in carrying out simple everyday tasks
• Feeling down or depressed (mental fatigue)

Regular exercise combined with a healthy diet and a good night’s rest can often boost your energy levels.

In addition, mindfulness and other meditation-based techniques are ideal for combating stress and depression and improving mental health.

• Learn more about the
  
  benefits of mindfulness

When to call your doctor

If you are suffering from extreme tiredness that is not simply due to a lack of sleep and has gone on for three to four weeks, you should seek advice from your doctor and make an appointment for a check-up.

Common symptoms of diabetes

Polydipsia

Polyuria

Polyphagia

Fatigue

Dizziness

Weight Loss

Blurred Vision

Slow Healing

Genital Itchiness

Nausea

Genital itching in either sex is an irritating problem that can simply be caused by allergies and skin irritations, or by more serious disorders and diseases such as

diabetes

In cases where genital itching is caused by irritation or allergy, avoiding exposure to the irritant or allergen may be all that is needed for the itching to resolve.

However, other causes of the condition may be more difficult to treat or may require more intensive treatment and could ultimately lead to serious complications.

What are the causes of genital itchiness?

Itching in the genital region can result from a wide range of things, including:

• Allergic reactions
• Bacterial vaginosis – a disease of the vagina caused by bacteria
• 
  Cancer
  (penile and vulval cancers) – rare types of cancer that occur in the skin or tissues of the penis and a woman’s external genitals (vulva), respectively
• 
  Diabetes mellitus
• Chemical irritants such as detergents, fabric softeners, soaps, creams, ointments and sexual lubricants
• Menopause – a drop in the hormone estrogen causes vaginal dryness
• Pubic lice – parasitic insects, also known as crabs, that typically live in pubic hair
• Scabies – a contagious, extremely itchy skin disease caused by tiny mites
• Sexually transmitted diseases, such as genital herpes and trichomoniasis
• Skin conditions – such as psoriasis and eczema
• Tinea cruris – a fungal skin infection also known as ringworm of the groin
• 
  Vaginal yeast infection
• Vaginitis – inflammation of the vaginal tissues

Note that many of the infectious causes of genital itching, such as STDs and yeast infection, are contagious.

Diabetes and genital itching

Genital itching and burning can indicate a female or male yeast infection.

Regular yeast infections are a sign of

type 2 diabetes

In diabetes, blood glucose levels can go abnormally high, which can therefore provide ideal conditions for naturally present yeast to grow and also diminishes the body’s ability to fight infection.

Diabetes can also cause a

higher glucose content in the urine
– another extremely suitable place for yeast to thrive.

Recognising genital itching

Genital itching is the term used to describe itching, burning or redness/soreness in and around the vagina or penis.

When to see your doctor

If you have genital itching that does not disappear after a couple days or more, or causes you concer, talk to your doctor or another healthcare professional.

Failure to seek professional medical advice could lead to further problems, such as spread of infectious disease through close body contact (usually sexual contact) or a secondary skin infection.

Additionally, it could mean an underlying disease, such as type 2 diabetes, is left diagnosed, thus increasing your

risk of diabetic complications

If you have diabetes and are regularly getting genital itching, it could be a sign that your blood glucose levels are too high. Your health team may be able to advise whether this is the case and, if so, how to bring your blood glucose levels under better control.

Common symptoms of diabetes

Polydipsia

Polyuria

Polyphagia

Fatigue

Dizziness

Weight Loss

Blurred Vision

Slow Healing

Genital Itchiness

Nausea

Wounds or sores that take more than a few weeks to heal might be infected and require medical treatment, and often indicate an underlying disease such as diabetes.

When you cut or burn yourself, your body begins a three-stage process to repair the damaged skin.

First, an immune response causes the wound to become inflamed to prevent infections.

Second, new cells (a scab) form over the wound, and finally scar tissue forms to heal the wound.

Some wounds heal easily while others can take longer, particularly if they are severe or the individual has a poor state of health.

Causes of slow wound healing

There are a number of things that can delay or complicate the healing of wounds, including:

• Diabetes mellitus
• Low HGH (human growth hormone)
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Vascular or arterial diseases
• Zinc deficiency

Diabetes and slow healing wounds

High levels of

blood glucose
caused by diabetes can, over time,

affect the nerves (neuropathy)
and lead to poor blood circulation, making it hard for blood – needed for skin repair – to reach areas of the body affected by sores or wounds.

This can cause them to remain open and unhealed for months, increasing the risk of:

• Fungal infections
• Bacterial infections
• Gangrene

Keeping blood glucose levels under good control
can help to reduce the risk of slow healing wounds now and further in the future.

Slow healing wounds can be a symptom of undiagnosed diabetes, particularly if other symptoms are also present.

Slow healing of wounds, including cuts, grazes and blisters, can be particularly problematic if they affect the feet of someone with diabetes and if not treated properly,

can raise the risk of amputation

It is important therefore that people with diabetes check their feet daily and report any signs of damage to their health team.

When to see your doctor

If you do not have diabetes and a cut or burn is taking a long time to heal or showing signs of infection, consult a

healthcare professional
to have the wound examined.

In some cases, a slow healing wound could signal an underlying medical condition such as diabetes.

Because of the risk of amputation, it is important, if you have diabetes, to consult your health team if you have any signs of damage to your feet.

Wounds on the feet, or any other part of your body, should be closely monitored.

Common symptoms of diabetes

Polydipsia

Polyuria

Polyphagia

Fatigue

Dizziness

Weight Loss

Blurred Vision

Slow Healing

Genital Itchiness

Nausea

Unexplained weight loss is the term used to describe a decrease in body weight that occurs unintentionally and can be a warning sign of diabetes.

The amount you weigh is determined by a number of factors including age, your calorie intake and overall health.

Once you reach middle adulthood, your weight should remain relatively stable from year to year.

Losing or gaining a few pounds here and there is normal, but unexplained weight loss that is significant (10 lbs/4.5kg or more or over 5% of your body weight) or persistent may signal an underlying medical condition.

Unexplained weight loss means

weight loss
that occurs without trying through dieting or exercising.

What are the possible causes of unexplained weight loss?

Unintentional or unexplained weight loss can be caused by a number of things, including depression, certain medication and diabetes.

Potential causes of unexplained weight loss include:

• Addison’s disease
• 
  Cancer
• 
  Coeliac disease
• 
  Chronic diarrhoea
• Dementia
• 
  Depression
• 
  Diabetes mellitus
• 
  Eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia)
• 
  Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
• HIV/AIDS
• Hypercalcemia
• Hyperthyroidism
• 
  Infection
• Malnutrition
• 
  Medicines, including chemotherapy drugs, laxatives, and thyroid medications
• Parkinson’s disease
• 
  Recreational drugs, including amphetamines and
  
  cocaine
• 
  Smoking
• Tuberculosis

Diabetes and sudden weight loss

In people with diabetes, insufficient insulin prevents the body from getting glucose from the blood into the body’s cells to use as energy.

When this occurs, the body starts burning fat and muscle for energy, causing a reduction in overall body weight.

Unexpected weight loss is often noticed in people prior to a diagnosis of

type 1 diabetes
but it may also affect people with

type 2 diabetes

When to call your doctor

If you have unintentionally lost more than 5% of your normal body weight, or more than 10 lbs (4.5 kg) in 6 – 12 months or less, you should consult your doctor.

They will be able to determine what’s causing the weight loss (e.g. undiagnosed diabetes) and the best way to treat the problem.

Common symptoms of diabetes

Polydipsia

Polyuria

Polyphagia

Fatigue

Dizziness

Weight Loss

Blurred Vision

Slow Healing

Genital Itchiness

Nausea

Knowing and understanding the symptoms of high
and low blood sugar should be essential for both diabetics and their friends
and families.

Symptoms of high blood sugar

Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, is common
amongst diabetics.

It occurs when a diabetic person eats too much food,
and has too little insulin to regulate their blood sugar. Sometimes stress
can cause diabetes.

Being aware of the following symptoms and staying alert
for their presence, whether you are a diabetic or a family member or friend,
should be essential:

• Need for frequent urination
• Drowsiness
• Nausea
• Extreme hunger and/or thirst
• Blurring of the vision

Symptoms of low blood sugar

Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, occurs when
a diabetic has not eaten enough food, or has too much insulin within his
or her body.

An excessive amount of exercise can also cause low blood sugar
levels.

Be aware of low blood sugar symptoms

Being aware of the following symptoms and staying alert for their
presence, whether you are a diabetic or a

family member
or friend, should
be essential:

• Shaking
• Fast heartbeat
• Sweating
• Anxiety
• Dizziness
• Extreme hunger
• Weakness and tiredness
• Irritability
  

Why do these symptoms matter for diabetics?

These symptoms are essential for diabetics to understand, because they may encounter high or low blood sugar levels from time to time.

A cold or virus can cause sudden high blood sugar levels, and understand the symptoms means knowing how to deal with hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia.

People with diabetes who can recognise the symptoms can avoid levels that lead to medical emergencies such as

diabetic ketoacidosis

Knowing your high and low blood sugar symptoms allows you to test

Once you understand symptoms of high and low blood sugar, it is possible to test quickly and avoid serious problems.

Keeping to a clear target range is one of the key goals of

diabetes management, and knowing when you have the symptoms of high or low blood sugar levels allows you to test your blood sugar and make a correction.

The

symptoms
of diabetes
can be reduced to three major factors. In the case of

type
1 diabetes, these symptoms can develop quickly.

However, when it comes
to

type 2 diabetes,
symptoms may be far subtler and develop slower.

What are the three big signs?

Polydipsia

Polyuria

Polyphagia

It is common for a number of symptoms to appear together.

For example, increased thirst (polydipsia) and an increased need to urinate (polyuria) will often come as a pair.

Are there other symptoms of diabetes?

The 3Ps of diabetes are a good indication that blood glucose levels may be too high. However, these symptoms may not always be obvious and it’s important to be aware of the other symptoms which may also be presented.

In children and young adults, the

symptoms of type 1 diabetes
(including the 3Ps) develop more quickly.

In type 2 diabetes, symptoms of diabetes may appear gradually, sometimes over a period of years, and may become more noticeable on some days and less noticeable on other days.

What happens when a person develops diabetes?

The 3Ps of diabetes are caused by the effect of diabetes on the body. If the level of glucose in the blood becomes too high, excess glucose is removed from the blood by the kidneys and excreted via the urine (glycosuria).

This results in greater urine production and causes the patient to urinate frequently.
Water held in the cells is required to replace lost blood volumen, and thus causes dehydration and thirst.

Increased hunger develops if the body has difficulty getting glucose from the blood into cells. This can occur if the body has insufficient insulin or if the body cannot respond to its insulin sufficiently well.

I’m worried I might have diabetes, what should I do?

Speak to a doctor or healthcare expert as soon as possible. The

Diabetes Forum
may be of help if you are given a diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes.

Diabetes and nighttime urination, or nocturia,
can be a sign of uncontrolled

blood sugar levels

This guide to nocturia explains the basics of recognising nocturia,
and how to avoid it.

What is nocturia?

Nocturia is defined as nocturnal urination. This means the
need to get up in the night to go to the toilet.

Needing to go to the toilet up to once during the night is considered to be normal. Needing to urinate more than once during the night could indicate a temporary or longer term problem may be present.

Causes of nocturia

There are a number of possible causes for needing to urinate more frequently than normal at night and these may include one or more of the following:

• 
  Diabetes insipidus
• 
  High blood glucose levels
• 
  Autonomic neuropathy
• 
  Urinary tract infections
• Cystitis
• Prostate diseases
• 
  Pregnancy
• Excessive fluid intake – particularly
  
  alcohol
  or caffeine intake
• Taking diuretic medications
• Parkinson’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis

Nocturia is more likely to appear as we get older.

Diabetes and nocturia

Having high blood glucose levels can cause the body to excrete excess glucose via the urine. In this instance, more

sugar
appears in the urine and simulates extra volumes of urine to be produced.

If you regularly have high blood glucose levels, you may increase the risk of picking up a

urinary tract infection
which can also increase the need to urinate through the night.

One specific form of diabetes that is not linked with abnormal blood glucose levels,

diabetes insipidus, is closely linked with nocturia.

How can nocturia be treated?

How nocturia is treated will depend upon what the underlying cause is. If you are having than

recommended blood glucose levels, bringing your levels under tighter control could help to reduce the need to urinate at night. Contact your GP or diabetes team for help in

improving your blood glucose control

If nocturia becomes troublesome or more frequent than normal, speak to your GP a sign of a condition unrelated to diabetes.

In some cases, your doctor may prescribe medication to help reduce the frequency of urination over night. Diuretic medication may be prescribed for use earlier in the day to help you pass excess urine before going to sleep.