What are common symptoms of diabetes?

Common symptoms of diabetes

- Frequent urination (polyuria)
- Excessive thirst (polydipsia)
- Increased hunger (polyphagia)
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue or feeling weak
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing cuts or frequent infections (including yeast infections)
- Numbness, tingling, or pain in the hands or feet (peripheral neuropathy)
- Dry skin, itchiness
- Increased irritability or mood changes

How symptoms differ by type
- Type 1 diabetes: symptoms often appear suddenly and can be severe. People may develop diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) with nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fruity breath, rapid breathing, and confusion — this is a medical emergency.
- Type 2 diabetes: symptoms usually develop more slowly and can be mild or absent for years.

If you’re being treated for diabetes, also watch for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) symptoms: shakiness, sweating, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, confusion, headache, and hunger.

When to seek care
- See a healthcare provider for testing if you have any of the symptoms above.
- Seek emergency care right away for severe symptoms such as vomiting, difficulty breathing, sudden confusion, loss of consciousness, or signs of DKA.

If you’d like, I can explain testing thresholds (fasting glucose, random glucose, A1c) or what to do next if you suspect diabetes.