Health: Diabetes Symptoms and Diagnosis

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Discover the most common symptoms of diabetes and what diagnosis of the condition might look like.

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Heading into the holidays, the likelihood of sugar overloads is pretty high. After all, who can resist that delicious Thanksgiving dessert? But, some peoples' bodies do not process sugars properly, and that insulin resistance can make it difficult to fully enjoy all of the holiday treats.

Frequently diagnosed, especially in women, diabetes is a treatable condition with multiple tell-tale signs of development.

**If you missed it, check out the first article in this series > Health: Diabetes Awareness**

For those who are prepared, the symptoms of diabetes can act as warning signs to provide ample opportunity for treatment before severe complications arise. However, what if you don't know the typical diabetes symptoms? Several online resources, including The American Diabetes Association, provide thorough lists of possible symptoms  such as those common in type 1 and 2:

• Abnormal fatigue
• Appetite changes like extreme hunger
• Increase in frequency of infections
• Increased thirst and frequent urination
• Mood changes - most commonly irritability
• Numbness, pain, or tingling in hands and/or feet - usually appears with type 2 diabetes
• Presence of ketones - ketones in the urine are a byproduct of muscle and fat breakdown caused by the lack of a sufficient supply of insulin
• Sores or bruises that heal more slowly than normal
• Unexplained weight loss - usually appears with type 1 diabetes
• Vision changes - i.e. blurred vision

According to Mayo Clinic, those who develop pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes may take longer to exhibit symptoms. On the other hand, symptoms are likely to show up faster and be more severe in those with type 1.

Pre-diabetes does not usually have signs or symptoms, but darkened skin on certain body parts (i.e. armpits, elbows, knees, knuckles, or neck) may signal your risk for developing type 2.

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Diabetes care is often managed by doctors, known as endocrinologists, who can perform a variety of tests to confirm a diagnosis and rule out other causes. Possible tests include:

• Fasting blood sugar test - takes a blood sample following an overnight fast (100 milligrams per deciliter [mg/dL] is considered normal; 100-125 mg/dL suggests pre-diabetes; 126 mg/dL or higher indicates diabetes)
• Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test - measures your average blood sugar level over the past 2-3 months (5.7% and below is considered normal; 5.7-6.4% suggests pre-diabetes; 6.5% or above indicates diabetes)
• Oral glucose test - measures your fasting blood sugar level first, then tests blood sugar levels multiple times after you drink a sugary liquid (140 mg/dL is considered normal; 140-199 mg/dL suggests pre-diabetes; 200 mg/dL or more  indicates diabetes)
• Random blood sugar test - takes a blood sample at a random time (200 mg/dL or higher indicates diabetes)

​If type 1 is suspected, the following tests might also be run.

• Autoantibody test - checks for any autoantibodies that may be present; autoantibodies are destructive immune system cells
• Keytone urine test - tests for any ketones present in the urine (see description of ketones above)

Tests for gestational diabetes are slightly different and may include testing and/or screening early on in pregnancy if you are at risk for developing this condition. 

• Initial glucose challenge test - you drink a glucose solution then measure your resulting blood sugar level (140 mg/dL or below is considered normal; higher numbers simply correlate to your risk of developing gestational diabetes)
• Follow-up glucose tolerance test - measures fasting blood sugar level first, then measures blood sugar level after drinking a sweet liquid (two or more levels exceeding the original blood sugar level measured indicate the presence of gestational diabetes)

Please keep in mind that there may be other causes, besides diabetes, for the symptoms listed above. If you think you may be experiencing any of these symptoms, please schedule an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible.

A positive diagnosis is an important first step to finding a therapy that works for you. To see a collection of currently available treatments, see this related post: Diabetes Treatment ​(coming November 16th).

Which diabetes symptoms do you experience most?

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Blessings, 
Danielle

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See Related Post > Diabetes Treatment Coming November 23rd!