If I asked you what diabetes feels like, what would you say?
Most people would probably answer, “Feeling thirsty all the time,” or “Going to the toilet a lot.”
While those symptoms certainly can happen, here’s the surprising part. Many people with Type 2 diabetes feel perfectly well. They carry on with work, family life, exercise and everything else without suspecting anything is wrong. The first sign may not be thirst or tiredness. It could be a heart attack, a stroke, blurred vision or a routine blood test that unexpectedly reveals high blood sugar.
That is why diabetes has earned a reputation as one of the quietest health conditions around. It often develops gradually over many years, causing damage long before symptoms appear.
As a pharmacist, I’ve lost count of the number of people who have told me, “I had no idea I was diabetic.”
They genuinely didn’t.
What exactly is diabetes?
Every time we eat, our digestive system breaks down much of our food into glucose, a simple sugar that becomes our body’s main source of energy.
Think of glucose as fuel for your body’s billions of tiny engines, your cells.
To get inside those cells, glucose needs a key. That key is a hormone called insulin, produced by the pancreas.
In Type 2 diabetes, two things gradually happen.
Firstly, the body’s cells stop responding properly to insulin. Doctors call this insulin resistance. Secondly, over time the pancreas struggles to keep producing enough insulin to keep up with demand.
The result is that glucose builds up in the bloodstream instead of entering the cells where it is needed.
Ironically, there is plenty of fuel available, but much of it cannot get to where it should.
Why does high blood sugar matter?
Many people assume sugar simply circulates harmlessly in the blood.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t.
Persistently high blood sugar slowly damages blood vessels throughout the body. Large arteries become more prone to narrowing, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Tiny blood vessels in the eyes, kidneys and nerves are also vulnerable.
This is why diabetes isn’t simply a “sugar problem.”
It is a condition that can affect almost every organ if left untreated.
The encouraging news is that good control dramatically reduces many of these risks.
Who is at risk?
Type 2 diabetes becomes more common with age, but age is only one part of the story.
Being overweight, particularly carrying extra weight around the waist, increases the risk considerably. A lack of physical activity also plays a major role.
Family history matters too. If one or both parents have Type 2 diabetes, your own risk is higher.
People of South Asian, Chinese, Malay and many other Asian backgrounds also tend to develop diabetes at lower body weights than people of European ancestry. This means someone who doesn’t appear particularly overweight may still be at significant risk.
Previous gestational diabetes during pregnancy also increases the likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.
None of these factors guarantee that someone will develop diabetes, but they do mean regular health checks become even more important.
What symptoms should you watch for?
Some people notice classic warning signs.
Feeling unusually thirsty.
Passing urine more often, particularly during the night.
Feeling tired despite getting enough sleep.
Blurred vision.
Slow-healing cuts.
Repeated skin or fungal infections.
Unexplained weight loss.
But here’s the important point.
Many people experience none of these symptoms at all.
That is why routine screening can be lifesaving, especially if you have risk factors.
A simple blood test may identify diabetes years before complications develop.
Can eating sugar alone cause diabetes?
This is probably one of the biggest misconceptions.
Eating sugar itself does not directly cause Type 2 diabetes.
If it did, everyone who enjoyed birthday cake or ice cream would eventually become diabetic.
The reality is more complex.
Regularly consuming large amounts of sugary drinks, sweets and highly processed foods can contribute to weight gain, and excess body weight is one of the strongest risk factors for developing insulin resistance.
In other words, it is the overall pattern of eating and lifestyle that matters, rather than blaming a single food.
You don’t get diabetes because you enjoyed dessert on Saturday night.
Can diabetes be reversed?
This is a question I hear increasingly often.
For some people diagnosed early, significant weight loss, healthier eating and increased physical activity can return blood sugar levels to the normal range without medication. Doctors usually describe this as remission rather than a cure.
However, remission doesn’t mean diabetes has disappeared forever.
If old habits return and weight is regained, blood sugar levels often rise again.
Others will still require tablets or insulin despite making excellent lifestyle changes.
Needing medication is not a sign of failure. Diabetes is a progressive condition, and treatment should be tailored to the individual.
Small changes really do add up
When people hear they have diabetes, they sometimes think they must completely change their lives overnight.
That usually isn’t realistic.
Instead, think about sustainable improvements.
Swap sugary drinks for water most of the time.
Choose smaller portions without feeling deprived.
Walk after meals whenever possible.
Eat more vegetables and high-fibre foods.
Reduce highly processed snacks.
Get enough sleep.
Keep alcohol within recommended limits.
These may sound like small steps, but together they can have a remarkable effect over months and years.
Don’t fear the diagnosis
I’ve met people who delayed getting tested because they were afraid of hearing the word “diabetes.”
Ironically, avoiding the diagnosis doesn’t prevent diabetes.
It only delays treatment.
Modern diabetes care has improved enormously over the past two decades. We now have medications that not only lower blood sugar but also help protect the heart and kidneys in many people.
The earlier diabetes is detected, the more options there are to prevent long-term complications.
That is why I would always rather tell someone they have early diabetes than discover it years later after damage has already occurred.
A final thought
One thing I’ve learnt over the years is that health problems rarely arrive with flashing lights and loud alarms. More often, they creep in quietly.
High blood pressure. High cholesterol. Type 2 diabetes.
All can progress silently for years while people continue feeling perfectly healthy.
That is why regular health checks are so valuable. They are not about looking for bad news. They are about finding opportunities to stay well.
Your body usually gives you many more years of good health when you look after it before problems become obvious.
Until next time, stay curious, stay informed and, above all, look after your health. It is one investment that will always pay dividends.
The Daily Durian (zaynp100@yahoo.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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