Glucose is one of the body’s main fuels. If there isn't enough, blood sugar levels rise and glucose is secreted into urine. This causes:
• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination
• Tiredness
• Weight loss, although appetite often increases (especially in Type 1 diabetes)
• Itchiness, especially around the genitals
• Recurrent infections on the skin, eg boils.
People with Type 1 diabetes usually develop these symptoms within days or weeks.
In Type 2 diabetes, these symptoms often don't show for years. Many are diagnosed by chance through routine medical check-ups.
Heredity plays a part in diabetes, but only 10 per cent of people with Type 1 have a family history of diabetes. For Type 2, this rises to 30 per cent.
