Symptoms of diabetes include:
It’s important to talk to your healthcare provider if you or your child has these symptoms.
Additional details about symptoms per type of diabetes include:
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Too much glucose circulating in your bloodstream causes diabetes, regardless of the type. However, the reason why your blood glucose levels are high differs depending on the type of diabetes.
Causes of diabetes include:
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Long-term use of certain medications can also lead to Type 2 diabetes, including HIV/AIDS medications and corticosteroids.
Diabetes can lead to acute (sudden and severe) and long-term complications — mainly due to extreme or prolonged high blood sugar levels.
Acute diabetes complications that can be life-threatening include:
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Blood glucose levels that remain high for too long can damage your body’s tissues and organs. This is mainly due to damage to your blood vessels and nerves, which support your body’s tissues.
Cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) issues are the most common type of long-term diabetes complication. They include:
Other diabetes complications include:
Living with diabetes can also affect your mental health. People with diabetes are two to three times more likely to have depression than people without diabetes.
Healthcare providers diagnose diabetes by checking your glucose level in a blood test. Three tests can measure your blood glucose level:
To screen for and diagnose gestational diabetes, providers order an oral glucose tolerance test.
The following test results typically indicate if you don’t have diabetes, have prediabetes or have diabetes. These values may vary slightly. In addition, healthcare providers rely on more than one test to diagnose diabetes.
| Type of test | In-range (mg/dL) | Prediabetes (mg/dL) | Diabetes (mg/L) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fasting blood glucose test | Less than 100. | 100 to 125. | 126 or higher. |
| Random blood glucose test | N/A. | N/A. | 200 or higher (with classic symptoms of hyperglycemia or hyperglycemic crisis). |
| A1c | Less than 5.7%. | 5.7% to 6.4%. | 6.5% or higher. |
| Type of test | |||
| Fasting blood glucose test | |||
| In-range (mg/dL) | |||
| Less than 100. | |||
| Prediabetes (mg/dL) | |||
| 100 to 125. | |||
| Diabetes (mg/L) | |||
| 126 or higher. | |||
| Random blood glucose test | |||
| In-range (mg/dL) | |||
| N/A. | |||
| Prediabetes (mg/dL) | |||
| N/A. | |||
| Diabetes (mg/L) | |||
| 200 or higher (with classic symptoms of hyperglycemia or hyperglycemic crisis). | |||
| A1c | |||
| In-range (mg/dL) | |||
| Less than 5.7%. | |||
| Prediabetes (mg/dL) | |||
| 5.7% to 6.4%. | |||
| Diabetes (mg/L) | |||
| 6.5% or higher. |
Diabetes is a complex condition, so its management involves several strategies. In addition, diabetes affects everyone differently, so management plans are highly individualized.
The four main aspects of managing diabetes include:
Due to the increased risk for heart disease, it’s also important to maintain a healthy:
The prognosis (outlook) for diabetes varies greatly depending on several factors, including:
Chronic high blood sugar can cause severe complications, which are usually irreversible. Several studies have shown that untreated chronic high blood sugar shortens your lifespan and worsens your quality of life.
In the United States, diabetes is the eighth leading cause of death. A large number of people with diabetes will die from a heart attack or stroke.
However, it’s important to know that you can live a healthy life with diabetes. The following are key to a better prognosis:
Studies show that people with diabetes may be able to reduce their risk of complications by consistently keeping their A1c levels below 7%.
You can’t prevent autoimmune and genetic forms of diabetes. But there are some steps you can take to lower your risk for developing prediabetes, Type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes, including:
It’s important to note that there are some diabetes risk factors you can’t change, such as your genetics/family history, age and race. Know that Type 2 diabetes is a complex condition that involves many contributing factors.
If you haven’t been diagnosed with diabetes, you should see a healthcare provider if you have any symptoms of diabetes, such as increased thirst and frequent urination.
If you have diabetes, you should see your provider who helps you manage diabetes (such as an endocrinologist) regularly.
Being diagnosed with diabetes is a life-changing event, but it doesn’t mean you can’t live a happy and healthy life. Managing diabetes involves consistent care and diligence. While it’ll likely be very overwhelming at first, over time you’ll get a better grasp on managing the condition and being in tune with your body.
Be sure to see your healthcare provider(s) regularly. Managing diabetes involves a team effort — you’ll want medical professionals, friends and family on your side. Don’t be afraid to reach out to them if you need help.
Whether you’ve been living with diabetes for years or you’re newly diagnosed, you want experts you can trust. Our team at Cleveland Clinic is here to help.
Last reviewed on 02/17/2023.
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