Secondary diabetes exhibits other characteristics of the primary disease in addition to elevated blood glucose. You can usually determine whether you have secondary diabetes by your own symptoms, medical history and test results. If one has secondary diabetes mellitus, a common trigger is acromegaly. In some people, there is an increase in the secretion of pituitary growth hormone, which can lead to acromegaly with symptoms such as hypertrophy of the limbs and a thick tongue, as well as abnormalities in blood glucose. Secondary diabetes mellitus is also determined by the results of blood glucose monitoring, medical history, and laboratory tests. Secondary diabetes mellitus is usually secondary to pancreatic disease, endocrine disease, prolonged use of glucocorticoids, and islet damage due to genetic mutations. It is recommended that you seek medical attention and undergo the relevant tests to determine whether the diabetes is secondary or not, in order to avoid delaying your condition.