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Symptoms & Diagnosis of Diabetes

Symptoms of diabetes can go undetected. A patient with headaches may think that stress is the problem. A patient who urinates frequently may blame the condition on natural aging. An individual can have symptoms of Type 2 diabetes for five to ten years without realizing the connection to high blood sugar. Type 1 diabetes, however, is more aggressive. Patients usually lose weight even though they eat. They may experience nausea and severe fatigue. Diagnosing Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes requires a fasting glucose test, A1C test, and a study of the patient's medical history.

  1. Type 1 Diabetes

    • Type 1 diabetes, formally called Juvenile Onset or Insulin Dependent diabetes, occurs in five to ten percent of people with diabetes. It affects children and young adults under the age of 35 more than older patients. Type 1 diabetics must have insulin to survive because their bodies do not produce the hormone needed to move sugar into the blood cells.

    Type 2 Diabetes

    • Type 2 diabetes, formally called Adult Onset or Non-Insulin Dependent diabetes occurs in 90 to 95 percent of people with diabetes. It usually occurs in adults over the age of 40, though, doctors are now discovering it in children who are overweight and inactive. Patients may be able to control the disease with diet and exercise; however, some do take oral medication and/or insulin.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes include weight loss even though the patient is hungry and eating, abdominal pain, nausea, increased thirst and urination, fatigue, and vomiting.

      Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes include blurred vision, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, slow healing infections, increased thirst and urination, as well as headaches, dizziness, and sweating.

    Tests

    • The A1C test reflects your blood glucose levels over a three-month period. The technician will test a drop of blood, usually in the doctor's office. Normal A1C readings are between 4 and 6 percent or 70 to 120 milligrams per deciliter. A score of 7 or above is considered diabetic.

      A fasting test requires the patient to go without food for eight to fourteen hours. A lab technician draws the blood from a vein in the arm. A blood glucose level above 125 mg/dL is considered diabetic. Glucose levels between 110 and 124 mg/dL is considered pre-diabetic.

    Other Considerations

    • Doctors may ask patients to test their blood sugar levels at different times throughout the day using a glucose monitor. Doctors look for a target range of 90 to 130 mg/dL 80% of the time. Physicians will also study a patient's family history. If the patient has siblings or parents with diabetes, the physician may require fasting tests each year to monitor the possibility of diabetes.

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