Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms

Symptoms of diabetes vary from case to case. In general, diabetes is characterized by increasing the concentration above normal blood glucose (hyperglycaemia), with or without removal of sugar in the urine. Other symptoms that may occur are: excessive thirst with increased intake of water, removing large amounts of urine, excessive hunger and food intake in large quantities.

These three symptoms are generally caused by hyperglycaemia. In patients who are ill, but have ignored the signs for a long time, not being diagnosed can enter diabetic coma.

Type 1 diabetes usually makes its presence felt before the age of 40, but there are patients who have type 1 diabetes diagnosed atypically, late in life, at the age of 50 or even later (in rare cases). Usually, patients affected with type 1 diabetes at an older age are obese, compared to those with diabetes type 2.

Type 1 diabetes can occur suddenly, with thirst, excess urination, increased appetite and weight loss. People with type 1 diabetes can have normal weight or are underweight, according to the interval between onset of symptoms and early treatment. Usually in type 1 diabetes, once symptoms have developed, it is necessary to administer insulin.

Symptoms of diabetes type 1 are installed quickly, within days or weeks and are caused by increased blood glucose level. Early symptoms may go ignored by the patient, especially if the person had the recently. These early symptoms are:
-frequent urination, especially at night
-extreme thirst and dry mouth
-losing weight
-increased appetite
-feeling of constant fatigue
-slow healing of wounds
-dry skin.

Nausea, vomiting or stomach pains may accompany these symptoms in the abrupt onset of insulin dependent diabetes.

Sometimes the blood glucose level can reach very high values, without a person noticing that he suffers from something. Since insulin is nonexistent, body cells cannot use glucose to obtain energy. Due to the absolute deficiency of insulin, the body uses protein and lipid catabolism for energy production. Burning fats and proteins are so much higher that it causes the production of excess ketones that enter the blood circulation. It produces one of the most severe complications of type 1 diabetes: diabetic ketoacidosis (CAD) whose symptoms are:

-dry, red, hot skin
-reduced appetite, abdominal pain, vomiting
-characteristic strong odour of acetone breath
-rapid, deep breathing
-agitation, drowsiness, confusion, coma. Young children lose interest in daily activities.
It is very important to have a medical examination and receive treatment as soon as possible, thus preventing complications and difficulty in living a normal life.