Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms
- Gabriella
- Oct 1, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 8, 2025
Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) can quietly develop over years. Initially, you may not notice anything, but your body is working harder than it should to control blood sugar levels. That’s why knowing the early warning signs is so important.
✅ The sooner diabetes is picked up, the easier it is to manage and the lower the risk of long-term complications.
Here are some of the most common diabetes symptoms to look out for:
Thirst & Frequent Urination
One of the classic signs. High blood sugar makes your kidneys flush out excess sugar, pulling water with it.
You may urinate more often than usual
Constant thirst follows because your body is losing extra fluid
Sometimes urine even smells a little sweet due to the sugar content
Low Energy & Fatigue
Feeling tired is common, but diabetes-related fatigue has a clear cause: sugar remains in the bloodstream instead of fuelling your cells. Without sugar inside the cells, your body can’t turn it into energy, resulting in low energy, sluggishness, or 'running on empty.
Trouble Losing Weight
Weight loss advice can feel frustrating for people with diabetes — because it’s harder than it sounds.
Type 2 diabetes is linked to high insulin levels
Insulin is a fat-storage hormone, which makes weight loss very difficult
Even with effort, progress can feel slower than expected
Hunger Soon After Eating
Do you eat a full meal and still feel hungry an hour later? That can be a sign of disrupted hunger signals.
High insulin levels keep driving appetite
The body’s “I’m full” signals don’t work properly
This makes it easy to snack or overeat, even when you’ve had enough
You may experience one, several, or none of these symptoms — but that doesn’t mean diabetes isn’t present. Type 2 diabetes can be silent for years before it’s diagnosed.
Cholesterol, Fatty Liver & Belly Fat
Excess sugar in the body often gets converted into fat. This can lead to:
Higher cholesterol levels
Fatty liver disease (non-alcoholic)
Visceral fat — fat around your organs that increases health risks
Blurry Vision
Not all vision changes mean you need new glasses. High blood sugar can temporarily change the shape of the eye’s lens, making focusing harder and causes blurred vision.
The good news: vision often improves with better blood sugar control
Numbness & Tingling
Tingling, itching, or numbness in the hands & feet can be an early sign of nerve damage (neuropathy). This happens when high blood sugar damages the small nerves over time.
Frequent Infections
Diabetes increases the risk of yeast and urinary tract infections.
Sugar in the urine feeds bacteria and yeast
These infections are particularly common in women and can be recurrent
Slow Healing
Cuts, scrapes, or wounds may take longer to heal.
High blood sugar reduces circulation
It increases inflammation, slowing the repair process
Even small injuries may linger for weeks instead of days
Erectile Dysfunction
For men, diabetes can impact circulation and nerve health, which are both essential for sexual function. Erectile dysfunction is often one of the first warning signs.
Final Note
You may experience one, several, or none of these symptoms — but that doesn’t mean diabetes isn’t present. Type 2 diabetes can be silent for years before it’s diagnosed.
👉 If you notice any of these signs, or if you’re at higher risk due to family history, weight, or lifestyle, it’s worth checking in with your doctor. Early detection makes a huge difference in managing diabetes and protecting your long-term health.
Ready to learn more? Register to my Free Masterclass '3 Evidenced-Based Strategies to Repair your Blood Sugar & HbA1c'.
