Type 1 diabetes (T1D) has several symptoms that you need to watch out for:
- Polyuria. Polyuria is frequent urination often in huge amounts. Because glucose cannot be controlled in people who have T1D, the excess glucose is often dumped in the urine. Glucose is diuretic; it draws large quantities of water. Polyuria is often paired with polydipsia.
- Polydipsia. When an individual feels exceptionally thirsty and has a dry mouth, they might have polydipsia. Thirstiness can be caused by hyperglycemia or excessive sugar in the bloodstream. Remember that polydipsia is not just regular thirst. Some patients consume as much as five liters a day but still feel thirsty.
- Polyphagia. Polyphagia is increased appetite or increased hunger. It is often caused by hyperglycemia. Without insulin to control high amounts of sugar in the bloodstreambloodstream, the cells cannot get energy. This deprivation triggers the hunger mechanism in the brain. It tricks the body into believing that it is hungry.
- Unexplained weight loss. Individuals with T1D often experience unexplained weight loss regardless of food intake. When glucose does not enter the cells, the cells cannot maintain mass which explains the weight loss.
Polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia are the top three symptoms of diabetes whether it is type 1 or type 2. Only unexplained weight loss is a sign of T1D. During testing though, what differentiates T1D is the presence of autoantibodies that destroys B-cells in the pancreas.
Other symptoms of T1D include:
- Blurred vision
- Extreme tiredness
- Genital itching
- Slow healing of wounds
- Unexpected cramping
The onset of these symptoms though would already mean the beginning of full-blown T1D. As of this writing, T1D cannot be cured or reversed. If a family member has been diagnosed with diabetes though, you need to start getting pre-screened for T1D because of its strong link to genetic factors. Get yourself tested as early as possible. Many individuals who have T1D are thought to have autoantibodies. These are the tests that doctors often do to determine T1D:
- Hemoglobin AIC. Your glucose level is measured for the past three months through the blood.
- Fasting Plasma Glucose. You need to fast for at least 8 hours to measure your blood glucose level.
- Oral Glucose Tolerance Test. You are given a sweet drink, and your blood sugar is measured two hours before and after.
- Random Plasma Glucose Test. It can happen any time of the day.
- Antibodies Testing: Insulin Autoantibodies, Insulinoma-Associated-2 Autoantibodies, Zinc Transporter 8 (ZnT8Ab), Islet Cell Cytoplasmic Autoantibodies, Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Autoantibodies. An individual is tested for antibodies that destroy insulin or the enzymes that produce insulin.
- C-peptide Test. Lower peptide levels can mean T1D.
References:
https://www.jdrf.org.au/type-1-diabetes/symptoms
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/symptoms/polyuria.html
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/symptoms/polydipsia.html
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/symptoms/polyphagia.html
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/symptoms/unexplained-weight-loss.html
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diagnosis/?loc=db-slabnav
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