Final answer:
Frequent urination and increased thirst are common initial symptoms of undiagnosed diabetes, indicating high blood glucose levels, leading to polyuria and glycosuria. These symptoms often prompt individuals to seek medical attention and can lead to a diabetes diagnosis, necessitating proper management to avoid serious complications.
Step-by-step explanation:
Frequent urination and increased thirst may be the first presenting symptoms of a person previously undiagnosed with diabetes. This is because diabetes mellitus is a disease characterized by problems with insulin, leading to elevated blood glucose levels. Excess glucose in the bloodstream results in increased urine production (polyuria) and glucose in the urine (glycosuria). Consequently, the body loses water through urine, which triggers excessive thirst (polydipsia) as the body seeks to rehydrate itself. These symptoms are indicators of hyperglycemia, a condition of elevated blood sugar level that is commonly linked to both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In addition to polyuria and polydipsia, individuals may experience further symptoms such as increased hunger (polyphagia), blurred vision, and in severe cases, numbness, tingling, or pain in the extremities due to diabetic neuropathy. Without proper diagnosis and treatment, diabetes can lead to more serious complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, and vision problems. It is critical for individuals experiencing these symptoms to seek medical evaluation to determine if they are manifestations of diabetes mellitus.