- Nick Jonas has been vocal about his Type 1 diabetes since he was diagnosed at age 13.
- The singer recently shared a video on Instagram for World Diabetes Day.
- He named four early symptoms of diabetes: weight loss, thirst, irritability, and frequent urination.
Nick Jonas shared a short video on Instagram to raise awareness of early signs of diabetes, a chronic condition he’s managed since his teenage years.
The singer, 30, said he noticed four signs something was wrong before he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 13.
In the video, Jonas points to four symptoms as they pop up on the screen: weight loss, excessive thirst, frequent urination, and irritability.
Diabetes affects how the body converts food to energy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Type 1 diabetes often shows up early in life, but it can happen at any age.
Jonas said he started experiencing symptoms in his teens. In an interview with Beyond Type 1 — a nonprofit organization he co-founded — he said that he suspects he had chronically high blood sugar at the time, which caused him to be irritable and lose weight.
“I was losing a significant amount of weight in a short period of time, almost 25 pounds in two weeks,” Jonas said, according to Beyond Type 1. “I was constantly thirsty, having to use the bathroom. My attitude and everything was off.”
According to the CDC, symptoms of diabetes may include:
- Frequent urination, especially at night
- Excessive thirst
- Excessive hunger
- Losing weight without trying
- Blurry vision
- Numb or tingling hands or feet
- Extreme fatigue
- Very dry skin
- Sores that won’t heal or heal slowly
- Frequent infections, or more than usual
Any of these symptoms could be an warning sign of diabetes, or at least a reason to get your blood sugar checked.
People with Type 1 diabetes may also experience nausea, vomiting, or stomach pains, the CDC says.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas makes little to no insulin — a vital hormone for converting food to energy. This typically starts in childhood, while Type 2 involves the development of insulin resistance over one’s lifetime.
Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes can appear over just a few weeks or months, and some complications are life-threatening, according to the CDC.
In the video caption, Jonas wrote, “I’m sharing my signs so that others can #SeeTheSigns. Join me and share yours.”