Health

The symptoms of type 1 diabetes are often sudden and severe. These symptoms include:

• Increased thirst
• Increased hunger (especially after eating)
• Dry mouth
• Frequent urination
• Unexplained weight loss (even though you are eating and feel hungry)
• Fatigue (weak, tired feeling)
• Blurred vision
• Numbness or tingling of the hands or feet
• Loss of consciousness (rare)

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes may be the same as those listed above. Most often, there are no symptoms or a very gradual development of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes.

Other symptoms include:

• Slow healing sores or cuts
• Itching of the skin (usually in the vaginal or groin area)
• Yeast infections
• Recent weight gain

Diabetes risk factors
Although the causes of diabetes are unknown, the following risk factors may increase your chance of developing diabetes:

• A family history of diabetes (if a parent or sibling in your family has diabetes)
• Race or ethnic background (the risk of diabetes is greater in Hispanics, African-Americans, Native Americans, and Asians)
• Being overweight (20 percent or more over your desired body weight)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Abnormal blood cholesterol or triglyceride levels: HDL or "good" cholesterol level under 45 mg/dl for men and 55 mg/dl for women, and/or a triglyceride level over 150 mg/dl.
• Age: Your risk of developing diabetes rises progressively as you get older.
• Use of certain drugs: 
  --Blood pressure medications (such as thiazides)
  --Steroid medications (such as prednisone or Decadron [dexamethasone])
  --Hydantoin medications (such as Dilantin [phenytoin])
  --Medications for transplant recipients (such as cyclosporine)
• Alcohol, especially if you have been a heavy drinker for years
• Smoking
• History of gestational diabetes (developing diabetes during pregnancy) or delivery of babies who weigh more than 9 pounds
• Autoimmune disease: Your body's defense system (immune system) attacks certain healthy cells in your pancreas that produce insulin (beta cells).
• Other factors, such as viruses, which may play a part in diabetes development

It is important to note that sugar itself does not cause diabetes. Eating a lot of sugar can lead to tooth decay, but it does not cause diabetes.

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