General symptoms (the "3 Ps")

In the medical literature, the classic triad of diabetes symptoms is described as the "3 Ps": polydipsia (excessive thirst), polyuria (frequent urination), and polyphagia (increased hunger). These are often accompanied by:

  • unintended weight loss;
  • fatigue and weakness;
  • blurred or worsening vision;
  • irritability and mood changes;
  • frequent urinary tract infections or fungal infections (candidiasis), genital itching;
  • slow healing of cuts, scrapes, and wounds.
By some estimates, about half of people with diabetes have no obvious symptoms — the condition is often discovered by chance during a routine blood test.

Features of type 1

Type 1 diabetes is typically marked by a sudden, rapid onset — symptoms can develop and worsen over just a few weeks. It's most often diagnosed in children, teenagers, and young adults (the average age at diagnosis, by some estimates, is around 24), though it can occur at any age. At diagnosis, a person usually has a normal or below-normal weight.

Features of type 2

Type 2 diabetes develops gradually — sometimes over years — and can go unnoticed for a long time. It's most often linked to excess weight or obesity. Some signs are more characteristic of this type in particular:

  • slow healing of wounds, cuts, and sores;
  • darkened, velvety-textured skin on the neck, under the arms, or in the groin (acanthosis nigricans) — a marker of insulin resistance;
  • numbness or tingling in the hands and feet — early signs of nerve damage (neuropathy).

When emergency care is needed

Some symptoms can signal an acute diabetes complication and require immediate medical attention: confusion, nausea and vomiting with abdominal pain, deep and labored breathing, a fruity smell on the breath, seizures, or loss of consciousness. See the "Diabetes Complications" page for more detail on these conditions.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a guide for self-diagnosis. If you notice these symptoms in yourself, see a doctor for an evaluation.