Symptoms of type 1 diabetes

Without insulin, your body can’t convert the carbs you eat into energy. Because your cells can’t get energy from food, your brain sends out hunger signals. Increased appetite is most common in children with undiagnosed T1D.

Polyuria is frequent—and often in large amounts—of urine. When your blood sugar is over 180 mg/dL, your kidneys work to filter it out of your system. This requires fluid to flush it from your system, which can lead to extreme dehydration and increased thirst.

Unexpected weight loss is often a sign your body can’t get adequate energy from the carbohydrates in the food you eat and is breaking down fat for energy.

High blood sugar can cause a buildup of ketones, which leads to too much acid in the blood. The body tries to remove carbon dioxide, an acid, from the body by increasing respiration. Heavy or labored breathing occurs when ketones are building up to dangerous levels in the blood and is a sign that emergency care is required.

Extreme thirst is caused by frequent urination as the kidneys attempt to filter sugar out of the bloodstream.

Fruity-smelling breath is a sign of a buildup of ketones in the blood.

One of the more common symptoms of T1D is fatigue. Being constantly tired may be a sign that the body is having trouble turning sugar in the bloodstream into energy.

If your body is dehydrated, even for a short period of time, dry mouth and itchy skin can occur.

Excess glucose in the body can lodge in the lens of the eye, which sometimes causes blurred vision.