The three most frequent symptoms of diabetes are feeling thirsty, frequent urination, and feeling hungry. Most people with diabetes also have an increased appetite, which can cause overeating. Besides these common symptoms, people with diabetes are likely to experience other subtle complications that are not obvious.
We commonly see all three symptoms in diabetics. However, the diagnosis of diabetes often hinges on a definitive test called a fasting insulin test (FAST). I do the test when the insulin level is high enough to be a sign that diabetes has been developing. Because pancreas cells do not make insulin, the test can show whether cells are producing less insulin. For those diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, the test is conclusive and final. But for those with type 2 diabetes, the symptoms may not be clear until later.
Common Symptoms Of Diabetes
One of the most common symptoms of diabetes in adults is extreme fatigue. While it may not be diabetes per se, they can connect most symptoms. Symptoms like fatigue to nondiabetic causes such as overwork, stress, depression, or anxiety. Because symptoms can appear as non-medical reasons, it is important to rule out all other illnesses first. Ruling out other symptoms before confirming diabetes as a cause will show the actual cause of the symptom.
Another of the many symptoms of diabetes changes in skin, hair, or eyesight. A diabetic patient can have dark circles under the eyes, thickening or absence of skin pigmentation. They also experience a loss of eyelashes, dry or itchy skin, and decreased vision. Diabetes may not cause these changes alone. But if they occur together and you cannot explain the cause, it is important to determine the diagnosis early. An evaluation by an optometrist or other physician can determine if these symptoms are because of diabetes or another illness.
Important Factors In Diagnosing Diabetes
An important factor in diagnosing type 1 or type 2 diabetes is the history of past medical illness. Sometimes the patient’s own description of symptoms over the past twelve months doctors use for diagnoses. If a diabetic patient has difficulty describing his symptoms, it is best to get medical records from his doctor. This will help medical personnel accurately test him for type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Blood tests and urinalysis are diagnostic tools to test past medical histories of patients suspected of type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Some people believe certain foods cause diabetes. However, this is not true. Diabetic symptoms do not occur because certain foods trigger an insulin response in the body. I think the actual cause of type 1 diabetes is insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a change in the body’s response to insulin. We know the abnormal cells that form in the pancreas and other organs as insulin-producing cells. Other types of cells may secrete insulin, but they are not insulin-producing cells.