Diabetes Symptoms: The different types of diabetes and its signs and symptoms

Diabetes symptoms may not be noticeable until an extremely high level of glucose is found in the blood, i.e. over and above 15mmol/l. The safe or normal level of glucose in the blood lies between 3.5 and 7.8 mmol/l (milli-moles per liter).

For this reason, it is rather common for people who have diabetes but do not even realise that they are diabetic.

As a result, the complications and damages caused by diabetes can surface and become serious even before the person discovers that he/she has diabetes. Therefore it is of great importance that people should know if they are suffering from the disease, as early as possible.

About 2,200 new cases of diabetes are diagnosed in the United States, everyday. Type 1 or Juvenile Diabetes usually has obvious symptoms, like frequent urination, weight loss, and increased thirst.

However, symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes, which typically occurs in adults, often develops in subtlety and showing few of no symptoms. This may be why it usually goes unnoticed at the initial stage and on average people have Type 2 Diabetes for 4 to 7 years before they are diagnosed.

In order to reduce this delay, experts now recommend that all those who are age 45 and above be regularly tested for diabetes.

Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes

• high frequency of urination,

• changes in mood and irritability,

• vomiting and nausea,

• unusually thirsty,

• weight loss despite extreme hunger,

• lethargy, tiredness and lack of energy

Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

• blurred vision

• in women, vaginal yeast/fungal infections under the breasts or in the groin,

• serious gum problems,

• in men, the possibility of impotence,

• slow to heal skin infections

• excessive itching, tingling/numbness in the feet or burning in extreme cases

Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes