Diabetes Mellitus - Signs and Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms

The classic symptoms of untreated diabetes are loss of weight, polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increased thirst) and polyphagia (increased hunger). Symptoms may develop rapidly (weeks or months) in type 1 diabetes, while they usually develop much more slowly and may be subtle or absent in type 2 diabetes.

Prolonged high blood glucose can cause glucose absorption in the lens of the eye, which leads to changes in its shape, resulting in vision changes. Blurred vision is a common complaint leading to a diabetes diagnosis; type 1 should always be suspected in cases of rapid vision change, whereas with type 2 change is generally more gradual, but should still be suspected. A number of skin rashes that can occur in diabetes are collectively known as diabetic dermadromes.

Read more about this topic:  Diabetes Mellitus

Famous quotes containing the words signs and, signs and/or symptoms:

    Time has an undertaking establishment on every block and drives his coffin nails faster than the steam riveters rivet or the stenographers type or the tickers tick out fours and eights and dollar signs and ciphers.
    John Dos Passos (1896–1970)

    Mister death who signs papers
    then eats
    telegraphs simply: Shoot them
    then eats
    Denise Levertov (b. 1923)

    In retirement, only money and symptoms are consequential.
    Mason Cooley (b. 1927)