What are the typical symptoms of diabetes?

Diabetic patients generally go through several stages: patients already have diabetes-related pathophysiological changes, but their glucose tolerance is still normal; as the disease progresses, prediabetes occurs, which is an intermediate state between normal glucose homeostasis and diabetic hyperglycemia., including impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT); eventually progressing to diabetes.

Early symptoms

The early stage of diabetes refers to the prediabetes stage: at this stage, there are generally no obvious discomfort symptoms and clinical manifestations: it is mainly discovered by detecting blood sugar.

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is more common in adolescents: it generally has an acute onset, and before the disease is diagnosed and treated, it can manifest as polydipsia, polyuria, polyphagia, and weight loss: a few patients may present with diabetic ketosis Acidosis, coma or acute abdomen as the first symptoms.

Insulin treatment is generally required from the beginning of the disease. Some adult patients have a slow onset and no obvious clinical manifestations in the early stage, which requires a blood glucose test to detect the disease.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is more common in adults: it often starts after the age of 40: most of the onset is insidious, and half of the patients have no symptoms in the early stage. Many patients have chronic complications or are diagnosed with the disease during physical examinations: there is often a family history. It often occurs at the same time or one after another with obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and other diseases. With the increase in the prevalence of obesity among adolescents in China, the number of people developing diabetes before the age of 40 is gradually increasing.

Some diabetic patients with significantly increased blood sugar may also suffer from vision changes, skin infections, vulvitis (women), posthitis (men), odontitis, etc.

In the early stage of the onset of diabetes: some patients may have symptoms of hypoglycemia, that is, symptoms such as palpitation, nausea, and cold sweats 3-5 hours after a meal. Complications and/or accompanying disease manifestations When the disease progresses to complications, symptoms of damage to the corresponding organs will appear.

Eyes

Long-term elevation of blood sugar can lead to retinal vasculopathy: causing vision loss or even blindness. Diabetic patients also have a significantly higher chance of developing cataracts, glaucoma, and other eye diseases.

Feet

After a foot injury, the wound is difficult to heal: wound infection and ulcers may occur (diabetic foot). In severe cases: systemic infection and osteomyelitis may occur, and poor treatment results may lead to amputation.

Cardiovascular

Risk factors for atherosclerosis, such as obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, have a high incidence rate in people with diabetes: therefore: diabetic patients have a higher prevalence of atherosclerosis, earlier onset, and faster disease progression.

Kidney

Causing diabetic nephropathy: It may eventually lead to renal failure, which is an important cause of death from diabetes. Severe kidney failure requires dialysis and kidney transplantation to maintain life.

Nerve

The most common is polyneuritis, which produces acrosthesia, hyperesthesia, tingling, burning, and sock-like sensations, and is the main cause of diabetic foot. Diabetes can also affect the autonomic nervous system: leading to disorders of gastrointestinal function, reproductive system function, and heart function.

Infections

Diabetes is prone to be complicated by various bacterial and fungal infections: such as recurrent pyelonephritis, cystitis, boils, pain, and other skin suppurative infections: tinea pedis, tinea corporis, and other fungal infections.