There are diabetes warning signs and symptoms that both women and men have in common, for example:

• Excessive thirst and hunger
• Frequent urination (from urinary tract infections or kidney problems)
• Weight loss or gain
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Blurred vision
• Slow-healing wounds
• Nausea
• Skin infections
• Darkening of skin in areas of body creases (acanthosis nigricans)
• Breath odor that is fruity, sweet, or an acetone odor
• Tingling or numbness in the hands or fee

Diabetes is a serious condition where either your pancreas is unable to make insulin or your body cannot make use of the insulin produced by your body. This leads to high blood sugar leads (Hyperglycaemia) which damages the body and the failure of various organs and tissues .

Type 1 – Scientists think Type 1 is caused by both a Genetic Factor (someone in your family may have it) and by environmental factors- for example a virus that triggers it, or if your pancreas is damaged and cannot produce Insulin.

Type 2 – There are a number Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes. These increase the chances of you developing the condition

• Family History
• The older you get the more risk you have
• High Blood Pressure
• Ethnicity – some Ethnic groups are more likely to develop it
  • South Asians 6x more likely
  • African and Afro Caribbean are 3x times more likely
• Being Overweight
• Unhealthy Diet
• Not enough exercise
• History of Gestational Diabetes
• Poor nutrition during pregnancy
• Impaired Glucose Tolerance (Blood sugar raises higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as diabetes – sometimes called pre-diabetes)

90% of all cases of Diabetes are Type 2 but the only way to actually tell is to get your Doctor to run tests. There are 5 tests that can be run and you should check with your Doctor which ones he can do for you.

1. Type 1 – Your body doesn’t make enough insulin or no insulin at all – this is made by the Pancreas.
2. Type 2 – Your body doesn’t use the insulin correctly
3. Gestational Diabetes – This affects woman whilst pregnant and usually (not always) disappears after giving birth – but leads to a higher risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes later in life both for the mother and child

There are a variety of other variations but they are much rarer