Untreated diabetes tends to cause worsening symptoms over time as chronically high blood sugar levels cause more damage to your tissues and organs. You may not recognize these warning signs in the beginning if they’re mild.
The symptoms of type 2 diabetes tend to come on more gradually than type 1 diabetes. In the early stages of diabetes, there may be no symptoms at all.
It’s important that you visit your doctor if you notice any potential warning signs of diabetes. If left untreated, diabetes can severely damage the tissues and organs in your body.
Early warning signs of diabetes
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes have some symptoms that are the same and some that are different.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source recommends seeing your doctor for blood sugar tests if you have any of the following general warning signs of diabetes:
- extreme thirst
- frequent urination, especially at night
- unintentional weight loss
- increased hunger
- blurred vision
- numbness or tingling in your hands and feet
- fatigue
- skin that’s very itchy or dry
- wounds that don’t heal quickly
Some of the other warning signs of type 1 diabetes
It’s generally diagnosed in children and young adults, although it can occur at any age. It’s most commonly diagnosed in children 4 to 6Trusted Source and 10 to 14 years of age.
In addition to the symptoms outlined above, a child may experience additional symptoms, such as:
- sudden, unintentional weight loss
- wetting the bed after a history of being dry at night
- a yeast infection in a prepubescent girl
- breath that smells like fruit
- flu-like symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, problems breathing, and loss of consciousness
