Diabetes Symptoms: Early Signs & When to Get Tested

Written by Syed Azmal Mahmood MD (Endocrinology), FCPS, MACP, MACE

Last updated September 21, 2026

The most common diabetes symptoms are increased thirst, frequent urination, increased hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision. Some people also lose weight without trying. But many people, especially those with type 2 diabetes, have mild symptoms or none at all.

That is why testing matters more than guessing. Only blood tests can diagnose diabetes, and having a symptom does not mean you have it. This guide covers common and early symptoms, differences between diabetes types, when to get tested, and when symptoms need urgent care. To learn the basics first, read our guide on what diabetes is. It ranks among the most common health issues in the U.S.

What Are the Common Symptoms of Diabetes?

Diabetes symptoms come from high blood glucose, also called blood sugar. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) lists these common symptoms:

• Increased urination
• Feeling very thirsty
• Feeling very hungry, even after you eat
• Blurred vision
• Fatigue
• Sores that do not heal
• Frequent infections, such as urinary tract, skin, or yeast infections

The CDC adds unexplained weight loss and feeling irritable or moody. Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet can also occur. Some people notice dry or itchy skin, according to Medical News Today, but that symptom has many other causes.

Symptoms vary by diabetes type and stage. Some people have several, some have one, and some have none.

What Are the Early Signs of Diabetes?

Early signs often start subtly. Here is what each one means.

Frequent Urination

When blood glucose runs high, your kidneys work overtime to filter it. Mayo Clinic explains that when the kidneys cannot keep up, extra sugar spills into the urine and pulls fluid along with it. You then pass more urine, often at night. Getting up repeatedly can disrupt your sleep, and our guide on how to improve sleep may help once your doctor finds the cause.

Increased Thirst

Losing extra fluid leads to dehydration, which triggers thirst. Drinking more then leads to more urination, so the two symptoms feed each other, Mayo Clinic notes.

Increased Hunger

Without enough working insulin, your body cannot use glucose well for energy. City of Hope explains that this can cause hunger even when you have eaten. NIDDK also lists feeling very hungry after eating as a common symptom.

Unusual Fatigue

When your body cannot use glucose properly, you may feel weak and low on stamina. Fatigue is common and has many other causes, so do not assume diabetes. Our guide on what causes fatigue covers the full list.

Blurred Vision

High blood glucose can change how your eyes focus. Mayo Clinic says that with treatment and better blood sugar control, focus usually returns. Untreated diabetes can damage the retina over time. For most people, those early retinal changes cause no vision problems, so regular eye exams still matter.

Unexplained Weight Loss

If your body cannot use glucose, it may break down muscle and fat for energy, according to City of Hope. NIDDK lists unexplained weight loss as a symptom of type 1 diabetes in particular.

Slow-Healing Wounds and Frequent Infections

Mayo Clinic says high blood sugar can impair blood flow and interfere with healing. People with diabetes may notice slow-healing sores, especially on the feet. Not every slow-healing cut signals diabetes, but repeated problems deserve a check.

Can You Have Diabetes Without Symptoms?

Yes. Some people with diabetes never notice symptoms, especially in the early stages. NIDDK says many people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms, or symptoms so mild they go unnoticed. The CDC adds that type 2 symptoms often take several years to develop.

The numbers show why this matters:

• About 40.1 million people in the U.S. have diabetes. The CDC estimates that 27.6% of adults with diabetes, about 11.0 million people, do not know it.
• About 115.2 million U.S. adults have prediabetes, and 8 in 10 of them do not know.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) notes in its 2026 Standards of Care that many people remain undiagnosed or learn they have diabetes only after complications appear. Not having symptoms does not rule out diabetes.

Diabetes Symptoms by Type

Symptoms and their speed of onset differ across the main types.

Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms

Type 1 diabetes usually develops fast. NIDDK says symptoms typically develop over a few days or weeks. The CDC says people in the earliest stages may have no symptoms, but as the disease progresses, symptoms can appear suddenly and be severe.

Symptoms include frequent urination, extreme thirst, increased hunger, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, and blurred vision. Type 1 often starts in childhood, but it can begin at any age. NIDDK notes that in some adults it develops slowly and looks more like type 2.

Warning Signs of Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)

Sometimes type 1 diabetes first appears as diabetic ketoacidosis. In DKA, the body lacks insulin and breaks down fat for fuel, which produces acids called ketones. Mayo Clinic says DKA symptoms often come on quickly, sometimes within 24 hours, and can be the first sign of diabetes.

Urgent care needed. Seek emergency care right away if high blood sugar comes with any of these signs:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Belly pain
• Fast, deep, or labored breathing
• Fruity-smelling breath
• Signs of dehydration or fainting
• Confusion or severe weakness

Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form. Our guide to type 2 diabetes covers causes and treatment in depth. Symptoms can develop over several years, and routine testing can find diabetes before symptoms appear.

When symptoms occur, they include frequent urination, increased thirst, fatigue, blurred vision, slow-healing wounds, frequent infections, and tingling or numbness. NIDDK says some people first learn about type 2 diabetes when a complication appears. Examples include pain, numbness, or tingling in the feet or hands, sexual problems, chest pain, and vision loss.

Gestational Diabetes Symptoms

Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy. NIDDK says most people with it have no symptoms. Any symptoms tend to be mild, such as extra thirst or more frequent urination. The NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health says routine screening is essential for this reason.

Symptoms alone are unreliable. Thirst and frequent urination are common in pregnancy, as City of Hope points out, so they do not signal gestational diabetes on their own. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says screening is generally recommended between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.

Diabetes Symptoms in Men and Women

Most diabetes symptoms look the same in men and women. A few concerns show up more often in one group.

Diabetes Symptoms in Men

Men can have the common symptoms above. Over time, diabetes can also affect sexual function. An NIDDK blog notes that many men with diabetes begin to have erectile dysfunction in their fifties, and rates rise with age.

Erectile dysfunction is not an early sign, and it has many other causes. It should not lead you to assume diabetes. Talk with your doctor about it either way.

Diabetes Symptoms in Women

Women with diabetes have a higher risk of vaginal yeast infections and urinary tract infections, especially when blood sugar runs high, according to the CDC. Mayo Clinic says the same. Repeated infections can prompt testing, but infections happen for many other reasons too.

Pregnancy adds another consideration, as covered in the gestational diabetes section.

Diabetes Symptoms in Children

Type 1 diabetes can occur in children. The CDC says unexplained bed-wetting or increased accidents could be a sign. NIDDK lists three common symptoms in children: needing to urinate more often, eating more but losing weight, and feeling very thirsty.

Symptoms in children usually appear over a short period. Parents may also notice tiredness or changes in energy and mood. Seek medical evaluation if you notice these signs. Use the DKA warning signs above as your urgent-care guide.

Type 2 diabetes is also becoming more common in children and teens, the CDC notes.

What Does Diabetes Feel Like?

Diabetes does not have one characteristic feeling. Some people notice:

• Persistent thirst
• Frequent trips to the bathroom
• Tiredness
• Blurry vision
• Hunger soon after eating
• General weakness

Others feel completely normal, particularly in the early stages of type 2 diabetes. That is why symptoms are not a reliable test.

When Should You Get Tested for Diabetes?

Get tested if you have symptoms, and do not wait for them if you have risk factors. NIDDK says anyone with diabetes symptoms should be tested. Its testing guidance also lists people without symptoms who need screening.

Who Should Get Tested

• Adults 35 and older. The ADA’s 2026 Standards say testing should begin no later than age 35. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening adults 35 to 70 who have overweight or obesity.
• Younger adults with overweight or obesity and another risk factor. The ADA says to consider testing at any age.
• People with prediabetes. The ADA says to test at least once a year.
• People with a history of gestational diabetes. The ADA recommends testing at least every 1 to 3 years. NIDDK advises testing 6 to 12 weeks after delivery.
• Pregnant women. Test for gestational diabetes at 24 to 28 weeks. NIDDK advises testing for type 2 diabetes at the first prenatal visit when risk is present.
• Children and teens. NIDDK says testing is advised between ages 10 and 18 for those with overweight or obesity and another risk factor.

If your results are normal, NIDDK says to retest every 3 years.

Risk Factors to Know

NIDDK lists these risk factors for type 2 diabetes:

• Overweight, obesity, or a large waist
• Age 35 or older
• A parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes
• Being African American, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic or Latino, or Pacific Islander
• Low physical activity
• Smoking
• Prediabetes
• A history of gestational diabetes

Certain medicines, such as glucocorticoids (steroids), can also raise blood sugar. The ADA offers a diabetes risk test that can help you decide whether to ask for testing. Symptoms and risk factors are reasons to test. They cannot diagnose diabetes.

How Is Diabetes Diagnosed?

Doctors diagnose diabetes with blood tests. The ADA’s 2026 Standards describe four ways: A1C, fasting plasma glucose, an oral glucose tolerance test, or a random plasma glucose with classic symptoms.

The ADA says that without clear, unmistakable hyperglycemia, diagnosis usually requires two abnormal results. They can come from two different tests or from the same test on different days.

A1C Test

The A1C test shows your average blood glucose over the past three months. NIDDK says you can eat and drink before it. It can be less reliable in some situations, such as certain blood conditions or the later stages of pregnancy.

Fasting Plasma Glucose Test

This test measures blood glucose at one point in time. NIDDK advises fasting for at least eight hours, usually with a morning draw.

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

After you fast, you drink a sugary liquid. A lab checks your blood glucose two hours later. Doctors also use this test to find gestational diabetes.

Random Plasma Glucose Test

Doctors may use this test when you have symptoms and they do not want to wait for a fast. It can happen at any time of day.

What About Prediabetes?

Prediabetes means blood sugar runs above normal but below the diabetes range. NIDDK lists an A1C of 5.7% to 6.4%, a fasting glucose of 100 to 125 mg/dL, or a two-hour glucose of 140 to 199 mg/dL. Because guidelines can change, check the ADA’s current Standards of Care for updates.

Can a Home Blood Sugar Test Diagnose Diabetes?

No. NIDDK is direct: do not try to diagnose yourself, and note that blood testing equipment sold over the counter, such as a blood glucose meter, cannot diagnose diabetes.

Meters help people with diabetes monitor their levels when a doctor recommends it. The ADA says the A1C test should be done with a laboratory method certified by the National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program. Its Standards of Care also state that evidence is insufficient to use continuous glucose monitors for screening or diagnosis, as the 2024 edition says.

One reading can mislead you. Ask a health care professional to interpret any result in context.

Diabetes Symptoms vs. Other Conditions

Fatigue, thirst, frequent urination, weight changes, and blurred vision can all occur for other reasons. The NHS lists many possible causes of tiredness, for example. Stress can also cause fatigue and irritability, and our guide on how to reduce stress offers coping tools.

Other examples of overlap include:

• Dehydration, which can cause thirst and headaches. Cleveland Clinic lists headache among dehydration signs in DKA, and our article on what causes headaches explains other triggers.
• Common digestive problems, which can cause nausea and belly pain. See our overview of common digestive problems.
• Medicines, such as steroids, which can raise blood sugar. NIDDK lists several.
• Vision changes that a routine eye exam can explain.

Having one or more symptoms does not automatically mean you have diabetes. A blood test provides the answer.

When Are Diabetes Symptoms an Emergency?

Seek emergency care right away. Do not wait for routine testing if high blood sugar or diabetes symptoms come with:

• Vomiting, especially if you cannot keep fluids down
• Fast, deep, or difficult breathing (see also shortness of breath)
• Fruity-smelling breath
• Severe dehydration or fainting (see what causes dizziness)
• Confusion
• Loss of consciousness
• Severe weakness or unusual sleepiness
• Belly pain

NIDDK calls DKA a medical emergency that needs treatment right away. Cleveland Clinic advises calling your provider immediately or going to the nearest emergency room. Mayo Clinic warns that untreated DKA can lead to death. Call 911 or your local emergency number, and do not drive yourself.

DKA is most common in type 1 diabetes. NIDDK notes that people with type 2 diabetes can develop it too if their body does not make enough insulin. An ADA consensus report describes DKA and other hyperglycemic crises in adults.

What You Can Do If You Are at Risk

Type 2 diabetes can often be delayed or prevented. NIDDK’s prevention guidance based on the Diabetes Prevention Program recommends three steps:

• Lose weight and keep it off. Losing 5% to 7% of your starting weight may help prevent or delay diabetes. See our guide to Weight Management: Healthy Habits for Long-Term Success.
• Move more. Aim for at least 30 minutes of activity five days a week, and start slowly. See the benefits of exercise.
• Eat healthy foods most of the time. Eat smaller portions, and drink water instead of sweetened drinks.

The CDC says that if you have prediabetes, losing weight through healthy eating and activity can cut your risk of type 2 diabetes in half. Our overview of weight loss trends in 2026 can help you choose sustainable methods. Our guides to a balanced diet and a healthy diet can help you plan meals, and the Nutrition Facts label helps you compare packaged foods.

Frequently Asked Questions About Diabetes Symptoms

What are the first signs of diabetes?

Early signs include increased thirst, frequent urination, increased hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision. Type 1 diabetes may also cause unexplained weight loss. Many people with type 2 diabetes notice no early signs, so testing matters.

What are the 10 warning signs of diabetes?

No official list has exactly ten items. Commonly cited signs include frequent urination, thirst, hunger, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, slow-healing sores, frequent infections, numbness or tingling, and dry or itchy skin. Each has other possible causes, so see a doctor about persistent symptoms.

Can you have diabetes without symptoms?

Yes. NIDDK says many people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms or very mild ones. The CDC estimates that about 1 in 4 adults with diabetes do not know they have it.

What does diabetes feel like?

Diabetes has no single feeling. Some people feel thirsty, tired, and hungry, and they urinate often. Others feel completely normal.

What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes?

Symptoms can include frequent urination, increased thirst, fatigue, blurred vision, slow-healing sores, frequent infections, and tingling or numbness. They often develop slowly over years. Read more in our guide to type 2 diabetes.

What are the symptoms of type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 symptoms usually appear over days or weeks. They include frequent urination, extreme thirst, hunger, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue. DKA can be the first sign, so treat vomiting, deep breathing, or confusion as an emergency.

Can diabetes cause tiredness?

Yes. When your body cannot use glucose well, you may feel weak and tired. Many other conditions cause fatigue too, so testing helps find the real cause.

Does diabetes cause frequent urination?

Yes. When blood sugar is high, the kidneys pass extra sugar and fluid into the urine, according to Mayo Clinic. Other conditions, such as urinary tract infections, can also cause it.

Can diabetes cause blurred vision?

Yes. High blood sugar can change how the eyes focus, and vision often improves once blood sugar is controlled. Untreated diabetes can also damage the retina over time, so get regular eye exams.

When should I get tested for diabetes?

Get tested if you have symptoms. Also get tested if you are 35 or older, or younger with overweight or obesity and another risk factor. Ask about testing if you have prediabetes or had gestational diabetes.

How can I test for diabetes?

A health care professional can order an A1C, fasting plasma glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, or random glucose test. Doctors usually confirm the result with a second test. Learn more in our guide on what diabetes is.

Can a blood sugar meter diagnose diabetes?

No. NIDDK says over-the-counter tools such as glucose meters cannot diagnose diabetes. A laboratory blood test, interpreted by a health professional, is needed.

Key Takeaways

• Common diabetes symptoms include thirst, frequent urination, hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision.
• Many people, especially with type 2 diabetes, have no symptoms, and about 1 in 4 adults with diabetes do not know they have it.
• Type 1 symptoms develop fast and can first appear as DKA, which is an emergency.
• Gestational diabetes rarely causes symptoms, so routine screening at 24 to 28 weeks matters.
• Symptoms alone cannot diagnose diabetes, and neither can a home meter.
• Get tested if you have symptoms or risk factors, or if you are 35 or older.

Talk with your health care professional if you notice symptoms or have risk factors. Early testing catches problems sooner. For the bigger picture, read our guides on healthy habits, healthy living tips, how to improve your health, and how to live a healthy lifestyle.

This article offers general health information and does not replace personal medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have symptoms of DKA or another emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

References

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