Health experts are sounding the alarm over the growing number of diabetes cases that go undiagnosed for months — and sometimes years — because early symptoms are often mistaken for everyday health issues. Doctors say this delay in recognising the warning signs is leading to late detection and avoidable complications.
According to endocrinologists, Type 2 diabetes typically begins with subtle changes in the body that do not appear alarming. Many patients initially attribute these signs to stress, ageing, workload or seasonal fatigue, and therefore do not seek timely medical evaluation.
A senior diabetologist explained that one of the most commonly ignored signs is persistent tiredness. “When blood sugar remains elevated, the body is unable to use glucose effectively for energy. Patients feel unusually exhausted but believe it is simply due to long working hours or lack of sleep,” he said.
Another frequently overlooked symptom is excessive thirst, often accompanied by increased urination, especially at night. Doctors say these issues are routinely dismissed as dehydration or a result of drinking too much water, when in fact they may indicate rising blood glucose levels.
Early diabetes can also cause blurred vision, sudden hunger, or unexpected weight loss. These indicators, however, are rarely linked to diabetes in the initial stages. “People assume vision changes are due to screen time, or they celebrate weight loss without realising it may be happening for the wrong reason,” a physician noted.
Medical experts caution that such misunderstandings can be dangerous. By the time clear symptoms appear, diabetes may have already begun to affect the heart, kidneys, nerves or eyes. “Delayed diagnosis remains one of the biggest challenges we face,” doctors say, urging the public to take even mild and seemingly routine symptoms seriously.
Health professionals recommend immediate screening for individuals who notice recurring fatigue, constant thirst, slow-healing wounds, or repeated infections — even if these complaints appear minor. Simple blood tests, they emphasise, can detect abnormalities at an early stage and significantly improve outcomes.
As diabetes continues to rise across the population, clinicians insist that awareness and early attention are crucial. “The signs are often hiding in plain sight,” one expert said. “Recognising them early can prevent a lifetime of complications.”
