WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES?

The signs and symptoms of diabetes are caused by higher than normal blood glucose levels and are the same regardless of what type of diabetes the person has. However, while people with type 1 diabetes may display obvious symptoms because their blood glucose levels are more likely to go very high, quite quickly, many people with type 2 diabetes, where the blood glucose levels have been slowly increasing over a long time, may not show any symptoms at all. 10

Signs and symptoms of diabetes can include:4

Unusual thirst Frequent urination Weight change (gain or loss) Extreme fatigue or lack of energy Blurred vision

Frequent or recurring infections Cuts and bruises that are slow to heal Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet Trouble getting or maintaining an erection

Not everyone who develops diabetes will have all these symptoms. As well, different people will feel symptoms at different levels of blood glucose.

Key Point: People should not rely on how they feel as the only indicator of their
blood glucose levels. An effective way to determine blood glucose levels is to self-monitor with a blood glucose meter.