Diabetes Symptoms You Should Not Underestimate
Recognising the signs
Diabetes can show up with obvious symptoms or stay silent for a long time, especially type 2. Knowing the main signs matters: it lets you see a doctor in time and get an early diagnosis, which is the best way to prevent complications. Many symptoms stem from a single mechanism: excess glucose in the blood that the body tries to get rid of.
The most typical symptoms
- Polyuria: needing to urinate often, including at night, because the body sheds excess glucose through the urine, taking water with it.
- Polydipsia: intense, persistent thirst, a direct consequence of fluid loss.
- Fatigue: when glucose doesn't enter the cells well, available energy drops.
- Unexplained weight loss, despite a normal or even increased appetite.
- Excessive hunger (polyphagia).
- Blurred vision, linked to blood-sugar fluctuations.
- Slow wound healing and recurrent infections, such as urinary infections or thrush.
Signs not to ignore in type 1
In type 1 diabetes symptoms usually appear quickly and markedly, especially in children and young people. Rapid weight loss, intense thirst and, in acute cases, fruity-smelling breath (a sign of ketoacidosis) call for prompt medical attention: in these cases, do not wait.
Why type 2 is more insidious
In type 2 diabetes, symptoms, when present, are often mild and set in slowly, so much so that they are put down to age or everyday tiredness. That is why many people live with the disease for months or years before diagnosis: this is where periodic screening plays a key role.
What to do if these signs sound familiar
If you notice one or more of these symptoms, the first step is to see your primary-care doctor, who can order simple blood tests such as fasting glucose and glycated haemoglobin. There's no need to panic, but no reason to delay either: early diagnosis allows timely action and reduces the risk of complications.
Frequently asked questions
Can you have diabetes without symptoms? Yes, especially type 2. That is why screening is useful even without complaints.
Do these symptoms always mean diabetes? No: they can have other causes. Only a doctor, with tests, can confirm or rule out diabetes.
An extra screen
Alongside lab tests, a non-invasive tool like Rima GlucoLens can offer an early signal of glucose in the urine. It is not a diagnosis: a positive result means it is worth following up with your doctor.
References: World Health Organization (WHO); American Diabetes Association (ADA); MSD Manuals. This article is for information only and does not replace medical advice.
Last updated: July 2026