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Diabetes symptoms: When to consult your doctor
Diabetes symptoms are often subtle. Here's what to look for — and when to consult your doctor.
By Mayo Clinic staffEarly diabetes symptoms can be subtle or seemingly harmless — if you have them at all. You could have diabetes for months or even years and not have any diabetes symptoms.
In the United States alone, more than 6 million people don't recognize diabetes symptoms, making them unaware that they have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. But you don't need to become a statistic. Understanding possible diabetes symptoms can lead to early diagnosis and treatment — and a lifetime of better health. If you're experiencing any of the following diabetes symptoms, see your doctor.
Excessive thirst and increased urination
Excessive thirst and increased urination 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 along with fluids drawn 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 unable to use sugar for energy.
Weight loss
Weight fluctuations also fall under the umbrella of possible diabetes 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 — as well as damage old 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.
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- All about diabetes. American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/about-diabetes.jsp. Accessed July 28, 2008.
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- Diabetes and your oral health. American Dental Association. http://www.ada.org/public/topics/diabetes_faq.asp. Accessed July 28, 2008.
- Fraser CE, et al. Classification and clinical features of diabetic retinopathy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 28, 2008.
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- Collazo-Clavell M (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. July 29, 2008.
