Early signs of type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition in which blood sugar (glucose) stays persistently high. The body either doesn't make enough insulin or loses its sensitivity to it. Its most dangerous feature is that it causes almost no symptoms in the early stages — which is why many people only learn they have it once complications begin. Early detection and lifestyle changes protect the heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves.

Early signs

Symptoms develop slowly and unnoticed. If several of the following persist, it is important to get your blood sugar checked:

• Frequent thirst and increased urination
• Constant fatigue, weakness and drowsiness
• Slow-healing wounds and cuts
• Blurred vision
• Unexplained weight loss or gain
• Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet

Risk factors

Type 2 diabetes doesn't appear overnight; it is the result of factors that build up over years. The following raise the risk significantly:

• Excess weight, especially fat around the abdomen
• A sedentary lifestyle
• A diet high in sugary drinks and processed food
• A family history of diabetes
• Being over 45 or having had gestational diabetes

How is diabetes diagnosed?

Diagnosis is made with simple blood tests. The most common are fasting blood glucose (after 8 hours fasting), HbA1c (the average sugar level over the last 2–3 months) and the glucose tolerance test. An HbA1c above 6.5% is usually considered diabetes; a range of 5.7–6.4% means prediabetes (a warning stage) where intervention can prevent the disease.

Prevention and management

The good news is that most type 2 diabetes is preventable or controllable through lifestyle:

• Replace sugary drinks with water and unsweetened options
• Favour whole grains, vegetables and protein; cut processed food
• Get at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week
• Losing even 5–7% of your weight markedly improves blood sugar
• Monitor blood sugar and HbA1c regularly as advised

What does uncontrolled diabetes lead to?

Sugar that stays high for a long time damages both small and large blood vessels. This can cause cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, vision loss (diabetic retinopathy), nerve damage and foot ulcers. It is these complications that make diabetes dangerous — and early control prevents almost all of them.

When to see a doctor

See an endocrinologist if these signs persist, if diabetes runs in your family, or if your fasting blood sugar is high. High blood sugar in pregnancy also needs specialist care.

Frequently asked questions

Does eating sugar cause diabetes?

Sugar alone doesn't directly cause diabetes; the main risks are excess weight and inactivity. But lots of sugary drinks affect both weight and risk directly.

Does diabetes go away?

Type 2 diabetes usually doesn't disappear completely, but in early stages weight loss and a healthy lifestyle can return blood sugar to the normal range (remission).

What is prediabetes?

Prediabetes is when blood sugar is above normal but below the diabetes threshold. It is a serious warning; lifestyle change often prevents progression to diabetes.

This article is for information only and does not replace a doctor's advice.