What are the signs and symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus (DM)?

From the Guidelines

The signs and symptoms of diabetes mellitus include polyuria, polydipsia, weight loss, polyphagia, and blurred vision, as a result of chronic hyperglycemia caused by defects in insulin secretion or action. These symptoms are associated with long-term damage and dysfunction of various organs, including the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and blood vessels 1. The pathogenic processes involved in the development of diabetes range from autoimmune destruction of pancreatic b-cells to abnormalities resulting in resistance to insulin action.

Some of the key symptoms of diabetes mellitus include:

• Polyuria: frequent urination due to the body's attempt to expel excess glucose through urine
• Polydipsia: increased thirst as a result of dehydration caused by frequent urination
• Weight loss: despite increased hunger, the body is unable to utilize glucose for energy, leading to weight loss
• Polyphagia: extreme hunger due to the body's inability to utilize glucose for energy
• Blurred vision: high blood sugar levels can cause the lens in the eye to swell, leading to blurred vision

According to the study published in Diabetes Care 1, the chronic hyperglycemia of diabetes is associated with long-term damage, dysfunction, and failure of different organs. Early diagnosis and treatment of diabetes are crucial to prevent serious complications like cardiovascular disease, kidney damage, nerve damage, and vision problems. If you experience any of the symptoms of diabetes, it is essential to seek medical attention promptly to prevent these complications.

The study also highlights that diabetes can be classified into two broad categories: type 1 diabetes, characterized by an absolute deficiency of insulin secretion, and type 2 diabetes, characterized by a combination of resistance to insulin action and an inadequate compensatory insulin secretory response 1. Understanding the underlying cause of diabetes is essential for effective management and treatment.

From the FDA Drug Label

Know your symptoms of high blood sugar which may include: increased thirst frequent urination drowsiness loss of appetite a hard time breathing fruity smell on the breath high amounts of sugar and ketones in your urine nausea, vomiting (throwing up) or stomach pain Symptoms of low blood sugar may include: sweating dizziness or lightheadedness shakiness hunger fast heart beat tingling of lips and tongue trouble concentrating or confusion blurred vision slurred speech anxiety, irritability or mood changes headache

The signs and symptoms of diabetes mellitus that may occur include:

• High blood sugar (hyperglycemia): increased thirst, frequent urination, drowsiness, loss of appetite, hard time breathing, fruity smell on the breath, high amounts of sugar and ketones in the urine, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia): sweating, dizziness or lightheadedness, shakiness, hunger, fast heartbeat, tingling of lips and tongue, trouble concentrating or confusion, blurred vision, slurred speech, anxiety, irritability, or mood changes, headache 2

From the Research

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus

• Polyuria (frequent urination) and polydipsia (excessive thirst) are common symptoms of diabetes mellitus, as seen in a patient with a 5-year history of type 2 diabetes mellitus 3
• Unintentional weight loss, body aches, fatigue, and numbness or tingling in the feet are also symptoms of uncontrolled hyperglycemia 3
• Hyperglycemia can lead to an osmotic diuresis, resulting in polyuria, which usually abates when the plasma glucose level approaches its renal threshold 4
• The urine glucose level should be 300 to 400 mmol/L with normal renal function in patients with hyperglycemia and polyuria 4
• Factors contributing to the degree of polyuria in patients with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus include the concentration of glucose in the urine, urine osmolality, and renal function 4
• Other symptoms of diabetes mellitus include myalgias, arthralgias, and difficulty sleeping 3

Diagnosis and Treatment

• A water deprivation test combined with desmopressin administration is the diagnostic 'gold standard' for differentiating between the causes of polyuria-polydipsia syndrome 5
• Copeptin, the c-terminal portion of the larger precursor peptide of AVP, has been evaluated as a useful candidate biomarker for the differential diagnosis of polyuria-polydipsia syndrome 5
• GLP-1 receptor agonists are a new class of hypoglycemic drugs that have been shown to be effective in reducing HbA1c levels and weight in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus 6, 7
• Insulin glargine is a standard agent used to supplement basal insulin in type 2 diabetes mellitus, but it has been shown to have a greater incidence of nocturnal hypoglycemia and influenza compared to GLP-1 receptor agonists 7