Am I at risk?

Newly diagnosed patients

What is diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes

Gestational diabetes

Complications caused by diabetes

Symptoms of diabetes

Diabetes facts

Glossary of terms

FDA clearance information

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Diabetes education and links

Symptoms of diabetes

The signs of diabetes are not always dramatic. They may not even be noticeable. In fact, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) estimates that millions of Americans have type 2 diabetes and are not even aware of it.

Watch for these symptoms. If you notice any of the following, ask your doctor to test you for diabetes.

For TYPE 1:

• Excessive urination
• Constant thirst

For TYPE 2:

• The need to urinate more than usual
• Constant thirst
• Unusual weight loss
• Feeling weak or tired
• Blurred vision
• Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
• Cuts and bruises that are slow to heal
• Frequent and recurring infections such as urinary tract infections, boils, and fungus
• Difficulty with erections in men, and unusual vaginal dryness in women
• Extreme hunger
• Feeling nauseated and vomiting

Tests to expect

Laboratory diagnostic tests also include measurement or analysis of:

• Ketones in the urine/blood
• Electrolytes
• pH level in the veins
• CBC (complete blood count)
• Islet cell antibodies
• Thyroid function tests and thyroid antibodies
• Kidney function tests
• Lipid profile

The importance of a lipid profile

This test measures the level of blood fats in your blood. People with diabetes are prone to higher levels of blood fats in their systems -- which puts them at increased risk of heart and blood vessel disease. You should have these tests done at least once a year. Your total fasting cholesterol should be less than 200 mg/dL. Your levels of HDL (so-called good fats) should be greater than 35 mg/dL. Your levels of LDL (bad fats) should be less than 130, and your triglyceride levels should be under 200 mg/dL. If you have heart or blood vessel disease, these levels may have to be even lower to prevent more problems.

If your test results don't fall in these ranges, your physician should be referring you to a dietitian for help with lowering the overall fat content in your diet, and help in losing weight, if that is a problem. He/she should also encourage you to begin an exercise program -- and should recommend an exercise tolerance test before you embark on an exercise program if you are over age 35 or have any diabetes complications. If you have any diabetes complications, he/she should be referring you to an exercise specialist (usually an exercise physiologist). These are usually the first courses of treatment for a lipid problem. He or she may also prescribe lipid lowering medications, if you have found that these changes aren't having the desired effect.