Frequently Asked Questions About Diabetes

Q. How do I know if I have diabetes?

A. As many as 50 percent (one-half) of persons with type 2 diabetes are unaware that they have the disease. For this reason, it is particularly important to pay attention to the signs and symptoms of diabetes and its risk factors.

Some of the signs of either type 1 or type 2 diabetes are:

• being very thirsty
• urinating often
• feeling very hungry or tired
• losing or gaining weight without trying
• having sores that heal slowly
• having dry, itchy skin
• losing the feeling in your feet or having tingling in your feet
• having blurry eyesight

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes often develop over a short period of time. In type 2 diabetes, symptoms develop more slowly, and some persons never have any symptoms of the disease. If you are regularly having any of these signs and symptoms, you should tell your doctor.

Source:
Diabetes Information. Questions and Answers About Diabetes and FDA. US Food and Drug Administration. April 2002