Excessive thirst is a symptom of diabetes
©2007 Publications International, Ltd.
A common symptom of diabetes
is unquenchable thirst.

About 6.2 million people have diabetes but don't know it. How is it possible that this many people don't know they have diabetes? Well, sometimes there aren't any symptoms until the disease progresses; this is frequently the case with type 2 diabetes. Other times, the symptoms don't raise any red flags because they don't appear to be very serious.

The classic signs of diabetes are insatiable thirst and excessive urination, to the point where the need to urinate may wake you several times each night. These two diabetic symptoms, caused by the need to get rid of excess sugar, are more noticeable in type 1 diabetes than in type 2 diabetes. Other diabetic signs include fatigue, sores on your hands and feet that won't heal (because of poor blood flow), urinary tract infections, and blurry vision.

If you have type 1 diabetes, you may lose weight, because the glucose can't reach your cells. This does not usually happen with type 2 diabetes, because there's nearly always some insulin; it just isn't 100 percent effective. That's why the symptoms of type 2 diabetes are often less dramatic and more easily ignored.

It's important to pay attention to these symptoms. Although they may not be too much of an inconvenience, they could signal future serious complications of diabetes. Of course, to get the most accurate information, you should look at the symptoms that are specific to your type of diabetes:

Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms
The diverse symptoms of type 1 diabetes can seem unrelated, but it's important to recognize these signals to diagnose the disease and avoid critical complications. Learn more about the symptoms of type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms
Although type 2 diabetes frequently has no outward symptoms at the onset, symptoms may become apparent as the disease progresses, leading to further complicatons. Even if you think you can live with these symptoms, you should get them checked out because a diagnosis of diabetes requires lifelong care.  Learn more about the symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

Gestational Diabetes Symptoms
Like type 2 diabetes, there are usually no symptoms of gestational diabetes. When there are symptoms, they are often the classic symptoms. Diagnosing gestational diabetes is important to prevent complications with pregnancy and labor. Learn more about the symptoms of gestational diabetes.

For more information on diabetes in general, try the following links:
  • To learn more about diabetes in general, including diagnosis, causes, symptoms, and treatment, visit our main Diabetes page.
  • Our main Type 1 Diabetes page will tell you more about this form of diabetes, commonly called, "juvenile diabetes."
  • To find out more about type 2 diabetes, which has reached the level of national health epidemic, go to our main Type 2 Diabetes page.

Suggestions for a Diabetic Diet
One of the most important aspects of treating and controlling diabetes is monitoring the food you take into your body. However, there may be more wiggle room than you think. To learn more about proper nutrition and diabetes, try the following links:
  • Our main Diabetic Diet page will show you which food groups are diabetes-friendly and which ones you should avoid.  
  • Visit our Diabetic Recipes page to find simple, delicious meals you can make that won't send our blood sugar into a tailspin.  

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.