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Untreated Diabetes Symptoms

Diabetes is a type of metabolic disorder that affects the amount of insulin produced by the pancreas. The pancreas produce a small amount of insulin or none at all, which causes a buildup of glucose in the body. The three types of diabetes are Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes. If left untreated, each type will produce particular symptoms.

  1. Type 1 Symptoms

    • If a person has Type 1 diabetes, she has a chronic form of the disease. This type is often diagnosed in children and young adults. Causes include heredity and viral exposure. Before a person seeks treatment, she may experience a range of symptoms that come on quickly. Type 1 diabetics feel very thirsty and feel the need to continuously drink during the day. This increased fluid intake will lead to the person having to go to the bathroom more often. Additional symptoms of untreated Type 1 diabetes are weight loss, lethargy and vision changes.

    Type 2 Symptoms

    • Type 2 diabetes occurs in adults and doesn't require insulin dependency. Possible causes of Type 2 diabetes are obesity and lack of physical activity. Patients with Type 2 diabetes will have many of the same symptoms of Type 1 patients, including extreme thirst, frequent urination, sudden weight loss, lethargy and changes of vision. However, they will also have additional symptoms while their diabetes remains untreated. This includes darkened areas of the skin that appear for no apparent reason. Cuts may also take longer to heal, because Type 2 diabetes affects your immune system.

    Gestational Diabetes Symptoms

    • Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that only occurs while a woman is pregnant. While suffering from the condition, the body produces high glucose levels that can harm the mother and baby. Gestational diabetes often shows no symptoms and is typically only detected through routine blood glucose tests. In some cases, the person may feel tired and thirsty due to the untreated condition.

    Considerations

    • Once a person starts treatment, he may still experience some of the symptoms of untreated diabetes. When he and his doctor are able to get his insulin levels under control, the symptoms should go away or lessen in severity.

    Warning

    • Diabetes can be deadly if left untreated for a significant period. If you have any signs of this serious condition, consult your doctor in order to go over your treatment options.

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