Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes are caused by the buildup of glucose in the blood where it cannot be used by cells for energy. Problems may be:
- Urinating often
- Being very thirsty or hungry
- Feeling very tired and weak
- Blurry vision
- Losing weight without trying
- Belly pain
Severe symptoms can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis. This is when glucose levels rise and the body starts to break down fat to use as energy instead. This makes a by-product called ketone bodies. They are made up of acids that can build up in the body and cause these additional type 1 diabetes symptoms:
- Problems breathing
- Belly pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headache
- Confusion
- Fruity breath odor
- Dry skin and mouth
This problem can be deadly and must be treated right away.
REFERENCES:
American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes-2019. Diabetes Care. 2019. Jan; 42 (Suppl 1):S1-193.
Diabetes mellitus type 1. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/condition/diabetes-mellitus-type-1-34. Updated June 28, 2019. Accessed November 22, 2019.
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/condition/diabetic-ketoacidosis-dka-in-adults. Updated August 23, 2017. Accessed December 12, 2019.
Type 1 diabetes. American Diabetes Association website. Available at: https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes/type-1. Accessed November 22, 2019.
Last reviewed September 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board James P. Cornell, MD