Type 1 Diabetes Signs and Symptoms

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition in which your pancreas produces little to no insulin. This hormone moves glucose (blood sugar) from your blood to your cells. Your body uses glucose for energy. A lack of insulin means that glucose cannot move into cells and instead builds up in your blood.

High glucose levels can lead to a variety of symptoms. Early symptoms and warning signs include blurry vision, excessive thirst, frequent urination, and increased hunger. Those symptoms can appear suddenly, developing within a few weeks or months.

Type 1 diabetes is manageable but can cause complications if untreated, so it's essential to know the symptoms. Read on to learn about type 1 diabetes signs and symptoms and when to consult a healthcare provider.

1. Blurry Vision

High blood glucose levels can cause swelling or a rise in fluid levels in the eye tissues that help you focus. Blurry vision can go away if you bring your blood glucose levels back to normal levels with proper treatment.

2. Diabetic Ketoacidosis

One of the first signs of type 1 diabetes can be diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening complication. DKA occurs when blood glucose levels become extremely high and insulin levels are low. You might mistake DKA with other illnesses since early symptoms, like nausea and vomiting, are vague.

DKA usually develops slowly but can develop quickly—even within a few hours—if vomiting occurs. Other DKA symptoms include:

• Dry skin and mouth
• Fast, deep breathing
• Fatigue
• Flushed face
• Fruity-smelling breath
• Headache
• Muscle aches and stiffness

3. Excessive Thirst

Increased thirst (polydipsia) is a common sign of type 1 diabetes, especially among children and adolescents. Excessive thirst might occur if increased urination causes dehydration.

4. Fatigue

Type 1 diabetes may cause a breakdown of muscle and fat, leading to fatigue and weakness. Fatigue can limit your physical and mental functioning and worsen your quality of life. You may find that getting enough sleep cannot help your tiredness.

5. Frequent Urination

An increased need to urinate (polyuria) can develop when there are high levels of glucose in the blood. Your kidneys can filter excess glucose from the blood and then excrete it in urine. People with type 1 diabetes might also urinate in larger amounts than usual. Glucose is a solute that attracts water, which increases urine output.

6. Increased Hunger

An increase in hunger even though you are eating (polyphagia) can be a sign of type 1 diabetes, especially in children and adolescents. Type 1 diabetes interrupts your body's ability to use glucose for energy, making you feel hungry.

7. Unexpected Weight Loss

Eating the same amount of food or more than you usually do and then losing weight can be a sign of type 1 diabetes. This symptom may be related to increased urination. You might unexpectedly lose weight if your body is not absorbing sugar like it typically does and instead loses it in your urine.

Symptoms in Children

Type 1 diabetes typically develops in children and adolescents, but it's possible for a person of any age to develop it. Some of the most common type 1 diabetes symptoms in children include:

• Excessive thirst
• Fatigue
• Frequent urination
• Nighttime accidents due to increased urine production (in potty-trained children)
• Weight loss

Of note: Some children do not develop symptoms. A healthcare provider will instead diagnose type 1 diabetes after detecting it with a routine blood or urine test. It's essential to keep up-to-date with routine visits to make sure your child gets type 1 diabetes diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

When To Contact a Healthcare Provider

It's best to talk to a healthcare provider to determine what diagnostic and treatment steps you might require. Contact a healthcare provider if you have:

• Foot infections and sores
• High blood sugar
• Low blood sugar, especially less than 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
• Numbness, pain, and tingling in your feet and legs
• Symptoms of anxiety and depression 
• Vision changes

Getting medical attention is especially important if you have DKA symptoms. DKA can be life-threatening, so visit a healthcare provider or the nearest emergency room right away if you suspect it.

A Quick Review

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic health condition that requires treatment, such as taking insulin. It's important to know the early symptoms and warning signs so you can diagnose and treat type 1 diabetes as early as possible. Pay attention to changes in your thirst, hunger, and frequency of urination, which are the classic first signs of the disease. Unexplained weight loss and fatigue can also occur.