Complications (6)
- Bone and joint problems associated with diabetes
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Dehydration
- see all in Complications
Lifestyle and home remedies (20)
- Diabetes management: How lifestyle, daily routine affect blood sugar
- Reading food labels: Tips if you have diabetes
- Insulin and weight gain: Keep the pounds off
- see all in Lifestyle and home remedies
Prevention (2)
- Couponing and other frugal food shopping tips
- Diabetes prevention: 5 tips for taking control
Tests and diagnosis (3)
- Glucose tolerance test
- A1C test
- Glucose challenge test
Treatments and drugs (8)
- Insulin and weight gain: Keep the pounds off
- Erectile dysfunction and diabetes: Take control today
- Blood glucose meter: How to choose
- see all in Treatments and drugs
Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Diabetes symptoms: When diabetes symptoms are a concern
Diabetes symptoms are often subtle. Here's what to look for — and when to consult your doctor.
By Mayo Clinic staffEarly diabetes symptoms, especially type 2 diabetes, 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, nearly 6 million people have undiagnosed 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 signs and symptoms, see your doctor.
Excessive thirst and increased urination
Excessive thirst and increased urination are classic diabetes signs and 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 less able to use sugar for energy needs.
Weight loss
Weight fluctuations also fall under the umbrella of possible diabetes signs and 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 established 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.
Next page(1 of 2)
- Diabetes statistics. American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/?utm_source=RightHandRail&utm_medium=SitePromotion4&utm_content=Stats&utm_campaign=CON. Accessed July 19, 2010.
- Am I at risk for type 2 diabetes? National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/riskfortype2/index.htm#3. Accessed July 19, 2010.
- Levitsky LL, et al. Epidemiology, presentation, and diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus in adolescents and young children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 19, 2010.
- Diabetes mellitus (DM). The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manuals for Healthcare Professionals. http://155.91.16.2/mmpe/sec12/ch158/ch158b.html#S12_CH158_T002. Accessed July 19, 2010.
- Powers AC. Chronic complications of DM. In: Fauci AS. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2891216. Accessed July 19, 2010.
- Eye complications. American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/eye-complications/. Accessed July 19, 2010.
- Skin complications. American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/skin-complications.html. Accessed July 19, 2010.
- Foot complications. American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/foot-complications.html. Accessed July 19, 2010.
- Prevent diabetes problems: Keep your teeth and gums healthy. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_teeth/. Accessed July 20, 2010.
- Diabetes and oral health. American Dental Association. http://www.ada.org/sections/scienceAndResearch/pdfs/patient_18.pdf. Accessed July 20, 2010.
Find Mayo Clinic on