Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes

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There are many types of symptoms that are linked to the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Some are very common and happen in the majority of cases, whereas others are quite rare. You may find that the symptoms listed below develop quite quickly if you are young, whereas they tend to occur gradually in the over 45’s. It is unlikely that you will experience any symptoms for a long time, as it takes a while for all the β cells to be destroyed. Once the pancreas stops producing insulin, you will begin to experience the following symptoms very rapidly. It is important that if you notice any of these symptoms you consult your local GP or hospital.

If you are an adult, symptoms include:

• Excessive Urination
• Insatiable thirst, usually for sweet, sugary drinks
• An exceedingly dry mouth
• Always feeling hungry
• Unintended weight loss
• You feel tired all the time or constantly weak
• Your vision becomes blurry for no reason
• You feel irritable
• Vomiting and nausea (if the symptoms come on quickly)

In children you should be aware of:

• Uncharacteristic bed wetting or toilet use
• Problems concentrating
• Frequent Tiredness
• Irritability
• Excessive thirst
• Restlessness

Unfortunately, due to children being less able to communicate their symptoms or understand the situation, the first you may know about your child having type 1 diabetes is them becoming unconscious. If this should happen, call the emergency services as quickly as possible.

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