Diagnosis of Diabetes

The diagnosis of diabetes is something your health care professional will have to do.

We can give you a guideline to the possible signs and symptoms of diabetes but please don't ever let this information replace the advice of your doctor or diabetes specialist nurse.

First let's take a look at the possible warning signs.

In type 1 diabetes the symptoms are usually quick to develop and are quite obvious but in type 2 they may take longer to appear, and may not be present at all in the early stages.

If you find yourself suffering from any of the problems listed below it's best to get yourself checked out. It's all too easy to put the symptoms down to just feeling a bit under the weather, or as signs of age creeping up on you if you are a little older.

Common Symptoms

• The urge to drink a lot more than usual (polydipsia).
• A dry mouth.
• Weight loss even though you haven't changed your diet.
• Needing to pee a lot more than usual (polyuria), especially at night.
• Feeling tired all of the time.
• Your vision may be blurred.
• Wounds may be slow to heal.
• You may get thrush.

If you have any of these problems, please see your doctor for tests. None of them mean a definite diagnosis of diabetes but, if you are diabetic, the sooner you begin treatment the sooner you will feel better. Early diagnosis and control will also reduce the risk of potentially severe complications.

What tests will my doctor do?

Well, you may have your urine tested for glucose and/or ketones. In type 1 diabetes it is possible to have both in your urine at the same time. The presence of glucose alone is not enough to diagnose diabetes.

You will also have a random blood glucose test to check for a high sugar levels. A finger prick test is unlikely to be accurate enough for a diagnosis so blood will be drawn from a vein.

You might also be asked to take a fasting blood test or even a glucose tolerance test.

Return to Gary's Diabetes Management from Diagnosis of Diabetes

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