Symptoms

The symptoms of type 1 diabetes can develop very quickly (over a few days or weeks), particularly in children.

In older adults, the symptoms can often take longer to develop (a few months).

However, they should disappear when you start taking insulin and the conditionis under control.

The main symptoms of diabetes are:

• feeling very thirst
• urinating more frequently than usual, particularly at night
• feeling very tired
• weight loss and loss of muscle bulk
• itchiness around the genital area, or regular bouts of thrush (a yeast infection)
• blurred vision caused by the lens of your eye changing shape
• slow healing of cuts and grazes

Vomiting or heavy, deep breathing can also occur at a later stage. This is a dangerous sign and requires immediate admission to hospital for treatment.

When to seek urgent medical attention

You should seek urgent medical attention if you have diabetes and develop:

• a loss of appetite
• nausea or vomiting
• a high temperature
• stomach pain
• fruity smelling breath which may smell like pear drops or nail varnish (others will usually be able to smell it, but you won't)

Hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose)

If you have diabetes, your blood glucose levels can become very low. This is known as hypoglycaemia (or a "hypo"), and it's triggered when injected insulin in your body moves too much glucose out of your bloodstream.

In most cases, hypoglycaemia occurs as a result of taking too much insulin, although it can also develop if you skip a meal, exercise very vigorously or drink alcohol on an empty stomach.

Symptoms of a "hypo" include:

• feeling shaky and irritable
• sweating
• tingling lips
• feeling weak
• feeling confused
• hunger
• nausea (feeling sick)

A hypo can be brought under control simply by eating or drinking something sugary.

If itisn't brought under control, a hypocan cause confusion, slurred speech and eventually unconsciousness.

In this case, an emergency injection of a hormone called glucagon will be needed. Glucagon increases the glucose in your blood.

Hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose)

As people with type 1 diabetes cannot produce any insulin, their blood glucose levels may become very high.

When your blood glucose levels become too high, it's known as hyperglycaemia. The symptoms of hyperglycaemia may come on suddenly and include:

• extreme thirst
• a dry mouth
• blurred vision
• drowsiness
• a need to pass urine frequently

Left untreated, hyperglycaemia can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis. This is a serious condition where the body breaks down fat and muscle as an alternative source of energy. This leads to a build-up of acids in your blood,which can cause vomiting, dehydration, unconsciousness and even death.