Symptoms
What your body might be telling you, before and after being diagnosed.
When your body isn’t managing blood sugar the way it should, it gives you warning signs. Symptoms can look similar across the different types of diabetes.
Common symptoms
These are the most frequent signs, especially in type 1, where they can come on quickly. In type 2 or MODY they usually show up more slowly, and type 2 is often almost silent: many people notice nothing at all, and it is only picked up through screening.
What you might notice
- Very thirsty
- Hungrier than usual
- Peeing more often, including night-time accidents
- Dry mouth
- Unintentional weight loss
- Feeling tired, weak, or low in energy
- Mood and behavior changes (e.g., irritability)
Night-time accidents can feel embarrassing, but they are simply the result of how much extra you are peeing.
Other things to watch for
- Blurry vision
- Cuts and wounds taking longer to heal
- Frequent infections
- Dark skin patches (acanthosis nigricans) on the neck, armpits or knuckles
- Impaired growth
🚨 Some signs mean: get help right away
These are not everyday warning signs. They can be signs of ketoacidosis (DKA). DKA is a medical emergency.
- Fruity- or nail-polish-smelling breath
- Throwing up or stomach pain
- Fast, deep breathing
- Very drowsy, confused, or hard to wake up
If you notice these, contact your doctor or diabetes team right away, or call 911 in the U.S. (or your local emergency number).
Periods and blood sugar
Hormones can shift things, for some people more than others.
Periods can affect blood sugar in different ways. For some girls it makes a noticeable difference; for others it doesn’t. Hormone changes: especially progesterone, can cause a kind of insulin resistance. There is more on hormones and blood sugar in Puberty & Blood Sugar Swings.
🩸 Patterns you might see
- Blood sugar rising 3–5 days before your period, then settling back after
- Blood sugar dropping before your period
- No clear pattern at all
📝 What can help
- Check your blood sugar a bit more often around your period
- Keep simple notes to spot your own pattern over a few cycles
TeenHealthInsight is a health education website, not a substitute for medical advice. Any questions or worries about your medication, devices, or daily care should be brought to your doctor. Learn here, decide there, always loop in your diabetes team before changing anything you do.