Medical Guides

Symptoms of Diabetes

The complaints of diabetic patients, with which, they approach the doctor, may vary depend on the following:

* The type of diabetes
* The unknown period of hyperglycaemia before diagnosis
* Severity of hyperglycaemia at the time of diagnosis

Patients usually approach the doctor with any one of the following presentations:
Acute presentation: Young people present with a brief history(2-4 weeks) of thirst, polyuria (frequent urination), weight loss and lethargy. Ketoacidosis (discussed later) is the presentingfeature if these early symptoms are not recognised and treated.

Sub-acute presentation: Older patients may present with thesame symptoms, although less marked and extending over several months. They may also complain of lack of energy, visual problems or pruritus vulvae (vaginal itching in females) orbalanitis (penile infection in males) due to Candida infection etc.

With complications: like visual disturbances or heart or kidney problems etc.

Asymptomatic individuals: In many cases, with type 2 diabetes there are no symptoms. People can live for months, even years without knowing they have the disease. This is because diabetes onset is so gradual that symptoms are not recognised. They are usually diagnosed at routine medical examination, e.g. for insurance purposes or at health check-up camps.

Common Symptoms of Diabetes

* Frequent urination (Polyuria)
* Eating again and again (Polyphagia)
* Frequent urination at night (Nocturia)
* Weight loss
* Weakness (Fatigue and lassitude).

Associated Symptoms

* Sudden pain in legs (Muscular cramps)
* Blurred vision
* Fungal or bacterial infection – usually of the mouth, genitilia and/or skin.

Approximately, 5 – 10% of patients with type 1 diabetes present in diabetic ketoacidosis (a complication of diabetes, which is discussed in the chapter of acute complications).

3 P’s – Polydipsia (excessive thirst), Polyuria (frequent urination), Polyphagia (eating veryfrequently) are the cardinal symptoms of diabetes.