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Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms
Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms - Most Common
Less Common Hyperglycemia Symptoms
Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms
Risk Factors & Associated Conditions
"But I feel fine."
Symptoms of diabetes are sometimes so vague that people often miss them. As a diabetes educator, people frequently tell me they didn't realize they had type 2 diabetes symptoms until they actually reviewed the list of them. As a person with diabetes, I too am often fooled by hyperglycemia symptoms (or lack of) and rely heavily on my glucose meter.
It's true that the hyperglycemia symptoms listed below can exist for numerous reasons other than diabetes. However, if you are experiencing any type 2 diabetes symptoms (hyperglycemia symptoms) on a regular basis you owe it to yourself and your family to follow up with your doctor.
Don't be fooled. You may not have any of the hyperglycemia symptoms or risk factors below. BUT YOU CAN STILL HAVE DIABETES OR PRE-DIABETES. To be sure, check your blood sugars against the guidelines for blood sugar levels.
Why bother checking you say?
Because eye and blood vessel damage start happening at blood sugar levels that are only slightly elevated with NO TYPE 2 DIABETES SYMPTOMS. By the time people with diabetes experience type 2 diabetes symptoms or hyperglycemia symptoms their blood sugars are usually quite high.
Most Common Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms
- Excessive thirst
- Dry mouth
- Frequent urination
- Frequent infections (yeast, bladder)
- Constantly tired
- Waking to pee during the night
- Blurry vision in the morning or elsewhere
- Unexplained or unusual weight loss
- Irritable or moody
- Poorly healing sores
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Less Common Hyperglycemia Symptoms
- Itchy skin
- Falling asleep after meals
- Hard waking in the morning; can't get enough sleep
- Tingling in feet or hands
- Weight gain
- Increased hunger or nausea
- Impotence
The definitive test to diagnose diabetes is the 2 hr oral glucose tolerance test or OGTT (a blood test). If you are frequently experiencing ANY of the above type 2 diabetes symptoms, please ask your doctor if an OGTT is appropriate.
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Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms
Hyperglycemia symptoms can be the same for type 1 as for type 2 diabetes symptoms (with the exception of weight gain). However, they are often more pronounced or quickly occuring in type 1 - often but not always. I have seen many people who we now believe might have slow onset type 1 diabetes (or LADA - latent autoimmune disease in adults). Likewise I've seen many with with a very rapid onset of symptoms with extremely elevated glucose levels who have type 2 diabetes mellitus.
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Risk Factors and Conditions Associated with Diabetes
- First-degree relative with diabetes
- History of IGT or IFG
- Heart Disease
- High Cholesterol
- High Blood Pressure
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Of Hispanic, Aboriginal, Asian or African descent
- History of diabetes when pregnant (gestational diabetes)
- Having given birth to a large baby
- Overweight
- Abdominal obesity
- Acanthosis nigricans (velvety, brown-to-black, rough thickened areas of skin on back of neck, under arms or in the groin)
- Schizophrenia
- Pancreatitis or history of
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"But I feel fine."
Don't just rely on hyperglycemia symptoms. Please check your glucose levels against national guidlines even if you don't have any of the type 2 diabetes symptoms listed above. I have seen thousands of patients with no hyperglycemia symptoms at the time of diabetes diagnosis. This is because physicians know the danger of high blood glucose levels and are checking earlier and more frequently for diabetes and pre-diabetes. This is a good thing. We are even seeing type 2 diabetes mellitus now in children as young as 6 years. Needless to say, this is not a good thing but . . . better to catch it early to help control diabetes and reduce complications.
If you have diabetes, please do not make the mistake of assuming that your blood glucose levels are in control because your type 2 diabetes symptoms went away. Do self blood glucose monitoring and compare your sugars to the healthy targets for diabetes.
Likewise, don't assume that your glucose levels are high just because you have some of these type 2 diabetes symptoms. For example, I have diabetes and felt quite parched this past hour. I was sure my sugars were high but when I tested using my meter I found I was in target. Blood glucose monitoring is essential as I explain in the 4 steps to blood sugar control. If you need tips on purchasing a meter check here.
I'm glad I'm not a gambler. If I had to guess and bet money on what my blood sugars would be based on my symptoms . . . well, I'd have no money to spend on my addiction to chocolate. Hmmm. ..
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Good Luck and Good Health!
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