Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms

Type 1 diabetes takes only a few weeks to develop. The initial symptoms are:

increased production of urine (because the body tries to get rid of the excess glucose in the urine, diluting it with water),
excessive thirst,
fatigue (because the glucose is not being converted into energy),
loss of weight,
increased appetite,
feeling sick,
blurred vision,
infections such as thrush or irritation of the genitals.
If type 1 diabetes is not treated at this stage, the body begins to produce chemicals called ketones that build up in the blood. This condition ? diabetic ketoacidosis ? causes additional symptoms:

vomiting,
stomach pain,
rapid breathing,
increased pulse rate,
sleepiness.
Without treatment, diabetic ketoacidosis can lead to coma or death.

Signs and tests

The following tests can be used to diagnose diabetes:

urinalysis shows glucose and ketone bodies in the urine, but a blood test is required for diagnosis
fasting blood glucose is 126 mg/dL or higher
random (nonfasting) blood glucose exceeds 200 mg/dL (this must be confimed with a fasting test)
insulin test (low or undetectable level of insulin)
C-peptide test (low or undetectable level of the protein C-peptide, a by-product of insulin production)