Message from Nurse Best—Diabetes Warning Signs
A Collaboration between the Jordan Bennett Weiss Fund and the City of Newton Health Department
JBW Fund – PO Box 590223 Newton Centre MA 02459 – JBWfund@aol.com
Familiarize yourself with the warning signs / symptoms of diabetes. Sometimes the symptoms are very obvious, and other times they are not. Early detection and knowledge of the warning signs is your greatest weapon against the disease and its complications!*
TYPE 1 DIABETES MELLITUS: These symptoms often occur suddenly and must receive immediate medical attention.
٭ Excessive thirst
٭ Frequent urination, sometimes exhibited by bedwetting
(in large quantities)
٭ Sudden vision changes
٭ High amounts of sugar in the blood and/or urine (A sweet, fruity odor may be
present in urine, on one’s breath/body.)
٭ Extreme hunger (increased appetite)
٭ Rapid or unexplained weight loss
٭ Fatigue (weak and tired)
٭ Irritability and mood changes
٭ Drowsiness, lethargy
٭ Nausea and/or vomiting
٭ Abdominal pain
٭ Rapid, hard breathing (heavy, labored)
٭ Confusion, Stupor, Unconsciousness
TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS: These symptoms occur gradually, however, they must receive immediate medical attention.
٭ Blurred vision
٭ Tingling or numbness in the legs, feet or fingers
٭ Frequent infections of the skin
٭ Recurring skin, gum or urinary tract infections
٭ Darker patches of skin usually in neck folds
٭ Itching of skin and/or genitals
٭ Drowsiness
٭ Slow healing of cuts and bruises
٭ Any of the symptoms listed under type 1 diabetes