Your body often whispers before it shouts. In diabetes, the whispers are easy to miss because they look like normal tiredness or busy-life problems. Let me tell you what to listen for.
The common early signs
- Feeling very thirsty, even after drinking water.
- Passing urine many times, including at night.
- Feeling hungry again soon after eating.
- Tiredness and sleepiness, especially after meals.
- Blurred vision that comes and goes.
- Cuts, boils or foot sores that heal slowly.
- Itching, or repeated infections in the private parts or skin folds.
- Tingling or burning in the feet.
- Weight loss without trying.
Why do these happen?
When sugar in the blood is too high, the kidneys try to throw out the extra sugar through urine. This takes water with it, so you pass more urine and feel thirsty. The cells are not getting fuel, so you feel tired and hungry. High sugar also feeds germs, which is why infections come again and again.
The tricky part
Many people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms at all in the early years. That is why I never say, “I feel fine, so I am fine.” A test is the only way to know.
When to see a doctor quickly
Please see a doctor the same day if you or your child has strong thirst, frequent urine, weight loss, vomiting, stomach pain or deep fast breathing. These can be signs of a serious problem needing urgent care.
What to do next
Get a fasting sugar and an HbA1c test. If you are above 30, have a big belly or a family history, test once every year even if you feel well.
A small story
Think of someone busy with work and family. For months she feels thirsty and tired, but she says, “It is just the weather and my workload.” She drinks more water, takes more tea, and carries on. Months later a routine test shows high sugar. Nothing was wrong with her willpower. The signs were simply easy to explain away. If something feels different for more than two weeks, please do not wait. A quick test costs little and can save you years of trouble.
If you live in Gopanpally, Gowlidoddi, Nallagandla or Tellapur, or work in the Financial District or Nanakramguda, a simple blood sugar check is available at our clinic in Gopanpally, Gachibowli. You can read more about our diabetes care or contact us to book a visit.
Keep reading
Your family doctor,
Akhila Reddy
MBBS, DNB (Family Medicine) | TSMC Reg. No. APMC/FMR/74261
AMC Hospital, Gopanpally, Gachibowli, Hyderabad
This article is for general health education and does not replace a check-up. Every person is different, so please speak to your doctor before changing any medicine. In an emergency, call 108 or go to the nearest hospital.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diabetes symptoms. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/signs-symptoms/index.html
- World Health Organization. Diabetes fact sheet. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diabetes
- American Diabetes Association. Standards of Care in Diabetes-2025. Diabetes Care 2025;48(Suppl 1). https://diabetesjournals.org/care/issue/48/Supplement_1