Many people do not realise that they are experiencing diabetes symptoms.  That’s because many of us believe being diabetes symptoms are something you’re born with, or not.

That is not true, and the truth is, there are several types of diabetes.  Type 1 is the type you are born with, Type 2, or adult onset diabetes usually occurs later in life, and is often linked to lifestyle, and gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy, and can be temporary.

Whichever type of diabetes you suspect you or someone you know may have, however, diabetes symptoms are common throughout – although in many cases, diabetes symptoms alone are too subtle for a home diagnosis!

Here are a few things you should look out for:

• Thirst.  Being excessively thirsty is often one of the first diabetes symptoms people pick up on.  Be careful though – excessive thirst can be a symptom of many other problems, including kidney failure, so don’t make any assumptions!
• Being excessively hungry can also be one of the more common symptoms of diabetes for some people.
• Urinating more often.  Again, this is one of the common diabetes symptoms, but also a symptom of many other diseases and problems, so be sure to check with your doctor!
• A general feeling of fatigue.  Many Type 2 diabetes patients in particular find that they are excessively tired before they are diagnosed with diabetes.
• Weight loss or weight gain, which cannot be explained by changes in diet or exercise is another of the common diabetes symptoms.
• A high prevalence of yeast infections in men and women, and vaginal infections in women, are also telltale diabetes symptoms.
• Dry mouth, even when you are drinking enough fluids is another of the common diabetes symptoms.
• Changes in your vision.  Another of the common diabetes symptoms is to develop blurred vision.
• You might also, as one of your diabetes symptoms, notice that cuts and scratches take longer than usual to heal.
• Finally, many people who are later diagnosed with diabetes find that their skin itches.  This is particularly common in the groin area.

As you can see from this list, diabetes symptoms are very subtle, and they are shared with many, many other conditions and disorders.  It is for exactly that reason that there is no way to definitively diagnose diabetes without a blood test.

That having been said, if you’ve read the list of diabetes symptoms, and find that many or most match what you have been experiencing, then there’s a good chance that what you have been experiencing might be diabetes. Whether it is or not, there’s a good chance that your symptoms of something, and it’s always best to know – forewarned is forearmed, as they say.

The good news is that in most cases, Type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes, as well as some cases of Type 1 diabetes do not require insulin injections as treatment.  In many cases, it’s possible to control your diabetes symptoms through diet and lifestyle changes. Whatever the outcome, however, remember that diabetes can be dangerous, and that ignoring diabetes symptoms is never a good idea – so plan a trip to your doctor or a clinic, and have yourself tested.

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