Signs of diabetes: symptoms and when to seek advice

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition where the amount of sugar, or glucose, in your blood is too high. It happens when your body does not make enough insulin, or the insulin it makes does not work properly. Insulin is a hormone that moves glucose from your blood into your cells, where it is used for energy.

There are two main types. Type 1 diabetes happens when the immune system attacks the cells that make insulin. It is not caused by diet or lifestyle and is treated with insulin. Type 2 diabetes happens when the body does not make enough insulin or cannot use it well. It is much more common, and the risk is linked to things such as age, family history, ethnicity, weight and how active you are.

What are the signs of diabetes?

The NHS lists the most common symptoms of type 2 diabetes as:

• feeling very tired
• peeing more than usual
• feeling thirsty all the time
• losing weight without trying

Other symptoms can include blurred vision, cuts or wounds that take longer to heal, and itching around the penis or vagina, or thrush that keeps coming back.

Having one of these does not mean you have diabetes, as they can have many causes. But the NHS advises asking for an urgent GP appointment, or contacting NHS 111, if you or your child has any symptoms of diabetes.

How do type 1 symptoms differ?

Type 1 diabetes symptoms are similar, but they usually come on quickly, over a few days or weeks. Children may start wetting the bed or have heavier nappies than usual. Diabetes UK uses the 4 Ts to help people remember the main signs: needing the toilet more, being very thirsty, feeling tired, and getting thinner without trying.

Type 1 diabetes can sometimes cause a serious condition called diabetic ketoacidosis. Call 999 or go to A and E if symptoms get worse quickly and come with stomach pain, being sick or diarrhoea, feeling sleepy or confused, or breathing faster and more deeply than usual.

Why is type 2 diabetes easy to miss?

Type 2 diabetes usually develops slowly, so the signs can creep up and be mistaken for tiredness, stress or getting older. Some people have no obvious symptoms at all and only find out through a routine blood test. This is why knowing your risk matters as much as knowing the symptoms.

Who is more likely to get type 2 diabetes?

According to Diabetes UK, your risk is higher if you are over 40, or over 25 if you are of African Caribbean, Black African, Chinese or South Asian heritage. It is also higher if a parent, brother, sister or child has type 2 diabetes, if you are living with overweight, or if you have ever had high blood pressure. Other risk factors include having had diabetes during pregnancy, polycystic ovary syndrome, smoking and not being very active.

Diabetes UK has a free Know Your Risk tool that takes a few minutes and shows whether your risk is low, moderate or high. The NHS recommends it if you are unsure.

How is diabetes diagnosed?

A GP can arrange a blood test. The main test for type 2 diabetes is called HbA1c, which shows your average blood sugar over the past two to three months. It is quick and you do not need to fast beforehand. Before your appointment, it can help to note down your symptoms, when they started and whether anyone in your family has diabetes.

Can diabetes affect your mood?

Yes. Living with diabetes can be demanding, and Diabetes UK describes diabetes distress as feeling overwhelmed by the day-to-day work of managing the condition. It is common, and it is not the same as depression, although it can lead to depression if it goes on without support. If you are struggling, tell your GP or diabetes team. They can help, including referring you to NHS talking therapies.

Can you lower your risk of type 2 diabetes?

The NHS says it may be possible to prevent type 2 diabetes by losing weight if you need to and improving your diet. Eating more fibre, fruit and vegetables, cutting down on sugary drinks, staying active, drinking less alcohol and not smoking all help. Small changes you can keep up are more effective than drastic ones.

These steps cannot prevent type 1 diabetes, which is not caused by lifestyle. And they are no substitute for advice: if you have symptoms, speak to a GP.