- You’re constantly running to the bathroom. “If your body doesn’t make enough insulin [a hormone that carries glucose into your cells to give them energy],” which can happen with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, “glucose builds up in your bloodstream and comes out in your urine. Because you’re urinating a lot, you’ll probably also be very thirsty and drinking more than usual.
- Your vision is blurry. High blood sugar levels cause glucose to build up in the lens of your eyes, making it harder for you to focus. This could mean that you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
- You’re losing weight for no apparent reason. This is usually a sign of type 1 diabetes, but it sometimes happens with type 2. When the body can’t make insulin, glucose (sugar) from food can’t be used by the body’s cells for energy or stored. In addition, fat starts to break down, making you lose more weight.
- There’s a dark ring around your neck. When your body starts pumping out too much insulin—which is common with type 2—receptors in the skin folds respond by making extra pigment.
- You’re getting frequent yeast infections. This can happen with type 1 or type 2, because a buildup of glucose can cause an overgrowth of yeast. Symptoms often include vaginal itching and thick discharge. Keep in mind that young children might instead get a diaper rash, and boys might get urethritis, a yeast infection of the urethra.
- You’re 45 or older. Diabetes risk goes up with age, so we recommend getting screened at least every three years starting at age 45.
