What symptoms of T1D are often ignored at 22?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am a 22-year-old male and just got diagnosed with T1D (type 1 diabetes), and looking back, I honestly cannot believe how many signs I ignored.

For months, I was constantly thirsty, carrying a water bottle everywhere, waking up multiple times a night to pee, and dropping weight despite eating more than usual. I blamed it on stress, college life, and not sleeping enough. By the time I finally got checked, my blood sugar was through the roof.

For people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as young adults, what symptoms did you brush off for months before realizing something was actually wrong?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have read your history and can understand your concern.

I am sorry you had to go through that. What you describe is something many people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in their teens or young adulthood can relate to.

The symptoms often develop gradually enough that they are easy to explain away as

Stress.
A busy schedule.
Poor sleep.
Increased exercise.
Changes in eating habits.

Common signs that people frequently brush off for months include:

Excessive thirst.
Frequent urination (especially at night).
Unexplained weight loss despite a good appetite.
Constant fatigue.
Difficulty concentrating.
Blurred vision.
Feeling unusually irritable or run down.

Some people also notice recurrent infections or slower healing of cuts but do not connect these issues to high blood sugar. Looking back, many realize the symptoms were quite significant, but at the time, they seemed easy to attribute to everyday life.

The important thing is that you eventually got evaluated and received a diagnosis before things became even more serious. Adjusting to type 1 diabetes at 22 can feel overwhelming, but with appropriate insulin therapy, monitoring, and support, many people go on to live healthy and active lives.

I hope it helped with the query.

Please let me know if you have any more questions on your mind.

I would be happy to guide you.

Thank you.