Diabetes patients should be alert for the symptoms of dehydration, because it often can be easily and successfully treated in its earliest stages. Symptoms of dehydration include:

• Thirst
• Little or no urine
• Concentrated, dark urine
• Sunken eyes
• Dry lips, mouth and tongue
• Inability to keep fluids down
• Lack of skin elasticity known as poor skin turgor
• Decreased tears
• Deep, rapid breathing
• Lethargic or comatose state (associated with severe dehydration)

Severe dehydration is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. When not treated, the lack of fluid prevents blood from getting to the vital organs, which may lead to shock. Symptoms of severe dehydration include:

• Altered mental status
• Dark amber or brown urine
• Weak and rapid pulse
• Skin that is either cold and clammy or hot and dry
• Sunken fontanels (the soft spot on top of a baby’s head) in infants
• Extreme thirst (polydipsia)
• Loss of consciousness

Once a person becomes dehydrated, physiological changes occur that can affect the person’s health. These include:

• The heart pumps harder to maintain adequate blood flow to the organs.
  
  
• The body is less able to control blood pressure.
  
  
• Distribution of nutrients and elimination of wastes are impaired.
  
  
• Reduced blood flow to the skin and lower amounts of water in the system keep the body from perspiring and dissipating heat. This can lead to heat exhaustion or potentially life-threatening heat stroke.

Prolonged or severe dehydration can lead to a number of life-threatening complications. These include:

• Brain swelling (cerebral edema)
• Seizures
• Kidney failure
• Coma and death