Signs & Symptoms of Diabetes

Although there are some common signs and symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, many cases of diabetes go undiagnosed because the warning signs and symptoms are mild. In fact, many people have no idea they have type 2 diabetes until complications such as signs of peripheral neuropathy begin to appear.

The most common symptoms of diabetes include:

  • Blurred vision
  • Bruises which are slow to heal
  • Cuts which are slow to heal
  • Exhaustion
  • Extreme hunger (even while eating or after eating)
  • Extreme thirst
  • Frequent infections
  • Frequent urination
  • Numbness in hands or feet
  • Pain in hands or feet
  • Tingling in hands or feet
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Unusually dry skin
Symptoms of diabetic nerve pain (peripheral neuropathy)
  • Burning in feet/legs or hands/arms
  • Changes in shape of feet
  • Dry, scaly, red skin on feet/legs
  • Erectile dysfunction/sexual dysfunction
  • Electrical jolt feeling in feet/legs or hands/arms
  • Feeling of tightness in feet
  • Irregularity in toenails
  • Leg weakness
  • Loss of balance
  • Numbness in feet/legs or hands/arms
  • Restlessness in legs
  • Sores which won’t heal properly (particularly on the feet)
  • Tingling in feet/legs or hands/arms

Diabetes is a disease in which your body doesn’t make enough insulin on its own or doesn’t use the insulin it does make as effectively as it needs to. This results in sugar building up in the blood, resulting in blood glucose levels which are not healthy.

Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death, and the risk of death is 50% higher for diabetics than non-diabetics.

All people with diabetes, whether diagnosed or undiagnosed are at greater risk for developing neuropathy. In fact, 50% of diabetics will be diagnosed with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (also called diabetic nerve pain, or diabetic neuropathy).

Type 1 Diabetes

Type I diabetes (also known as juvenile diabetes or insulin dependent diabetes) is a disease in which your body does not produce insulin. Without insulin, the body cannot successfully transfer glucose from the bloodstream to the cells of the body, which rely on glucose for energy. Typically diagnosed in children and young adults, type 1 diabetes accounts for only 5% of all cases of diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes, insulin resistant diabetes or adult-onset diabetes) is the prevailing type of diabetes, accounting for 90-95% of all diabetes diagnoses. People with type 2 diabetes are unable to use the insulin produced by their body properly, causing blood glucose levels to rise to unhealthy or abnormal levels. These high blood sugar levels cause damage to all tissues within the human body.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and may affect as many as 10% of pregnant women. Gestational diabetes goes away after the mother has given birth in the vast majority of cases.

Other Types of Diabetes

Other specific types of diabetes, which may result from surgery, medications, malnutrition, illness, infections and genetic syndromes are rare, accounting for 1-5% of diagnosed cases of diabetes.

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Although there are some common signs and symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, many cases of diabetes go undiagnosed because the warning signs and symptoms are mild. In fact, many people have no idea they have type 2 diabetes until complications such as signs of peripheral neuropathy begin to appear.

The most common symptoms of diabetes include:

  • Blurred vision
  • Bruises which are slow to heal
  • Cuts which are slow to heal
  • Exhaustion
  • Extreme hunger (even while eating or after eating)
  • Extreme thirst
  • Frequent infections
  • Frequent urination
  • Numbness in hands or feet
  • Pain in hands or feet
  • Tingling in hands or feet
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Unusually dry skin
Symptoms of diabetic nerve pain (peripheral neuropathy)
  • Burning in feet/legs or hands/arms
  • Changes in shape of feet
  • Dry, scaly, red skin on feet/legs
  • Erectile dysfunction/sexual dysfunction
  • Electrical jolt feeling in feet/legs or hands/arms
  • Feeling of tightness in feet
  • Irregularity in toenails
  • Leg weakness
  • Loss of balance
  • Numbness in feet/legs or hands/arms
  • Restlessness in legs
  • Sores which won’t heal properly (particularly on the feet)
  • Tingling in feet/legs or hands/arms

Diabetes is a disease in which your body doesn’t make enough insulin on its own or doesn’t use the insulin it does make as effectively as it needs to. This results in sugar building up in the blood, resulting in blood glucose levels which are not healthy.

Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death, and the risk of death is 50% higher for diabetics than non-diabetics.

All people with diabetes, whether diagnosed or undiagnosed are at greater risk for developing neuropathy. In fact, 50% of diabetics will be diagnosed with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (also called diabetic nerve pain, or diabetic neuropathy).

Type 1 Diabetes

Type I diabetes (also known as juvenile diabetes or insulin dependent diabetes) is a disease in which your body does not produce insulin. Without insulin, the body cannot successfully transfer glucose from the bloodstream to the cells of the body, which rely on glucose for energy. Typically diagnosed in children and young adults, type 1 diabetes accounts for only 5% of all cases of diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes, insulin resistant diabetes or adult-onset diabetes) is the prevailing type of diabetes, accounting for 90-95% of all diabetes diagnoses. People with type 2 diabetes are unable to use the insulin produced by their body properly, causing blood glucose levels to rise to unhealthy or abnormal levels. These high blood sugar levels cause damage to all tissues within the human body.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and may affect as many as 10% of pregnant women. Gestational diabetes goes away after the mother has given birth in the vast majority of cases.

Other Types of Diabetes

Other specific types of diabetes, which may result from surgery, medications, malnutrition, illness, infections and genetic syndromes are rare, accounting for 1-5% of diagnosed cases of diabetes.

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gina.taveras@gtbsg.com