According to the National Institutes of Health, about one-third of Americans with diabetes don’t know they have it. Yet untreated diabetes – characterized by too much glucose in the blood and not enough in the cells of the body – often does cause symptoms that may include...

Frequent urination – In an attempt to dilute the excessive amount of glucose, the kidneys draw extra water out of the blood. This results in a full bladder many times a day.

Excessive thirst – The body is trying to replace the fluid lost through frequent urination.

Weakness and fatigue –When glucose can’t get into the cells to provide energy, you feel tired and run-down.

Extreme hunger – The body interprets a lack of energy in the cells as a call to action to eat more.

Unexplained weight loss –When energy can’t reach the cells, the body starts to break down muscle and fat for energy. This is more common (and sudden) in type 1 diabetes.

If you’re experiencing even one of these symptoms or think you may be at risk for diabetes, speak with your doctor. You may also want to visit www.dh.org and click on ‘Online Health Information’ at the top right of the page to find a wealth of information about diabetes in both the ‘Adult Health Library’ and the ‘Medical Conditions’ sections.