You feel more thirsty than usual. You are visiting the bathroom more often. You feel unusually tired, your vision seems slightly blurry, or a wound that should have healed is taking longer than expected.

Would you immediately think of diabetes?

Probably not.

That is one reason diabetes can go unnoticed for a long time. Type 2 diabetes can develop gradually, and some people may have few or no noticeable symptoms. Others discover they have diabetes only after a routine health check or when another health problem prompts blood tests.

So, what are the early signs of diabetes? And when should you actually consider getting tested?

Let's look at the clues worth knowing.

Feeling thirsty after exercising or on a hot day is normal.

But persistent, unusual thirst can be one of the common symptoms of diabetes.

When blood glucose levels become too high, the kidneys work to remove excess glucose through urine. This can contribute to increased urination and, consequently, increased thirst.

If you find yourself constantly reaching for water without an obvious reason, it is worth discussing with a doctor.

Frequent urination—especially if it is noticeably different from your usual pattern—is another symptom that should not simply be ignored.

It can have many causes, so frequent urination does not automatically mean diabetes. But when it occurs along with excessive thirst, tiredness or unexplained weight loss, checking your blood sugar may be appropriate.

Everyone gets tired.

But persistent fatigue that doesn't seem to improve with adequate sleep or rest can sometimes be associated with high blood glucose.

Other medical conditions can cause fatigue too, which is why symptoms need to be considered in context rather than self-diagnosed.

Unexplained weight loss can occur with diabetes, particularly when blood glucose is significantly elevated.

If you are losing weight without intentionally changing your diet or activity levels, don't assume it is simply a "good thing". Unexplained weight changes deserve medical attention.

Changes in blood glucose can affect the eye and cause blurred vision.

A new or persistent change in vision should be evaluated rather than automatically attributed to tiredness, screen time or ageing.

Diabetes can also affect the small blood vessels in the eyes over time, which is why regular eye care becomes important for people living with diabetes.

A small cut that takes longer than expected to heal, or repeated skin or urinary infections, can sometimes be associated with diabetes.

The key word is sometimes. These symptoms have many possible causes, but recurring infections or slow-healing wounds are worth discussing with a healthcare professional.

Tingling, burning or numbness—particularly in the feet—can occur when diabetes-related nerve damage develops.

For some people, these symptoms may be one of the clues that leads to a diabetes diagnosis.

This is an important question.

You can have diabetes without obvious symptoms.

Type 2 diabetes can develop slowly, sometimes over several years. Some people only discover it during a routine blood test or after developing a related health problem.

That is why risk factors and regular health checks matter.

A family history of diabetes, excess weight, physical inactivity, increasing age and a history of gestational diabetes can increase the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.

This is one of the most common misconceptions.

Diabetes isn't simply caused by eating sweets.

Type 2 diabetes involves a combination of factors, including insulin resistance, genetics, physical inactivity, body weight and other metabolic factors.

So someone can develop diabetes even if they rarely eat sweets. Likewise, eating one sugary food does not mean that a person automatically develops diabetes.

If your doctor suspects diabetes, you may hear the term HbA1c.

HbA1c is a blood test that provides an estimate of your average blood glucose level over approximately the previous three months. Unlike a single blood sugar reading, it provides a longer-term picture.

For diagnosis, commonly used ranges are:

• Below 5.7%: Normal
• 5.7%–6.4%: Prediabetes
• 6.5% or above: Diabetes

A diagnosis should be made by a healthcare professional and may require confirmation depending on the circumstances and test results.

Don't wait until symptoms become severe.

Speak to a healthcare professional if you notice persistent:

• Excessive thirst
• Frequent urination
• Unexplained weight loss
• Unusual fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Recurrent infections
• Slow-healing wounds
• Tingling or numbness in your hands or feet

And if you have diabetes risk factors—even without symptoms—ask whether diabetes screening is appropriate for you.

Diabetes doesn't always announce itself loudly.

Sometimes, the first clues are small: more thirst, more bathroom trips, unexplained tiredness or a change in your vision.

Recognising these signs doesn't mean you have diabetes—but it may be a reason to get checked.

Early awareness gives you an opportunity to understand your blood sugar and take appropriate action.

Koshys Hospital's Department of General Medicine provides evaluation and management of diabetes and other lifestyle-related conditions, along with preventive health care for adults and people at higher risk.

Koshys Hospital is located at Thambu Chetty Palya Road, Raghavendra Nagar, Ramamurthy Nagar Extension, Bengaluru – 560016.

Medical information in this article is for awareness and does not replace an individual consultation with a healthcare professional.