Diabetes Symptoms

The Basics | Symptoms | Detection & Treatment | Prevention

What Are the Symptoms?

• Excessive thirst and appetite
• Increased urination (sometimes as often as every hour)
• Unusual weight loss or gain
• Fatigue
• Nausea, perhaps vomiting
• Blurred vision
• In women, frequent vaginal infections
• In men and women, yeast infections
• Dry mouth
• Slow-healing sores or cuts
• Itching skin, especially in the groin or vaginal area

• You feel nauseated, weak, and excessively thirsty; are urinating very frequently; have abdominal pain; or are breathing more deeply and rapidly than normal — perhaps with sweet breath that smells like nail polish remover. You may need immediate medical attention for ketoacidosis — a potentially deadly complication of type 1 diabetes.
• You are having weakness or fainting spells; are experiencing a rapid heartbeat, trembling, and excessive sweating; and feel irritable, hungry, or suddenly drowsy. You could be developing hypoglycemia — low blood sugar that can occur with diabetes treatment. You may need to eat or drink a carbohydrate snack quickly to avoid more serious complications.

Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD, July 2002.

The Basics | Symptoms | Detection & Treatment | Prevention

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