The symptoms of diabetes (I feel I'm writing my med school exams again): 1. fatigue 2. polyphagia (lots of eating) 3. polydypsia (lots of drinking) 4. nocturia (getting up to pee at night) 5. weight loss (despite polyphagia) These get worse, and if not picked up or treatment begun, can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis and coma. The symptoms often develop over weeks or even months. Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC