There are two main types of diabetes, but the symptoms are much the same in either one of them. Type 1 diabetes occurs when insulin-producing cells are destroyed. Type 2 happens when cells become resistant to insulin. Both of these cause too much glucose in the blood and a drastic decrease in the cells. The most common type of diabetes is the second type.
Typical Diabetes Symptoms
The first noticeable symptom of diabetes is usually an excess of urine production. This causes a person to have to urinate frequently. Excessive thirst accompanies frequent urination. This happens because the kidneys are unable to keep up with the high amount of glucose it receives from the blood stream. They take more water from the blood to dilute the glucose for processing. The result is a need to go more often and thirst caused by lack of water in the body.
Type 1 diabetes causes extreme weight loss in a very short amount of time. The reason for this is that the cells are suddenly not getting the energy (glucose) they need and so they tap into muscle and fat tissue. Type 2 diabetes is a more gradual process and so weight loss is not as profound.
A person with diabetes will have unexplained fatigue and will feel weak. Because of the lack of glucose in the cells, they are not getting enough energy. You don’t feel energetic because your cells aren’t getting energy.
Neuropathy occurs over time and is first experienced as a tingling or numbness in the extremities of the body. The hands and feet are most commonly affected. If the problem is type 2 diabetes, the symptoms come on gradually and so it can take some time before it is reported to a doctor. If a diagnosis is made early enough, the problem can be helped. Diabetes type 1 is most often caused by genetics. Diabetes type 2 can be genetic but it is also caused by obesity. A predisposition for diabetes coupled with one or more of these symptoms show an immediate need for testing.