Roughly 11 million American adults are living with type 2 diabetes and have no idea. That is 27.6 percent of all U.S. adults with the disease, according to the CDC's National Diabetes Statistics Report published in January 2026.
They miss it because the early symptoms develop over years, not weeks. Each one on its own can look like normal aging, a busy week or a rough night of sleep.
Here are 9 signs the CDC and the American Diabetes Association say to watch for.
Frequent urination
Waking to use the bathroom several times a night, or noticing more trips during the day, can mean the kidneys are pulling extra glucose out of the blood. It is often the first thing people notice.
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Increased thirst and hunger
The CDC lists persistent thirst and unexplained hunger together as a common early sign. Water loss from frequent urination drives the thirst. Cells that cannot get enough glucose drive the hunger.
Unexplained weight loss
Weight loss without any change in diet or activity can be an early clue. The body starts pulling energy from muscle and fat when it cannot use glucose properly.
Persistent fatigue
The CDC lists fatigue among the shared symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. When cells cannot use glucose efficiently, ordinary activities feel harder.
Blurry vision
High blood sugar can pull fluid into the lens of the eye, changing its shape and blurring vision. It often improves once glucose is brought under control.
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Frequent UTIs or yeast infections
Excess sugar in urine and on the skin creates conditions where bacteria and yeast thrive. The CDC lists frequent urinary tract infections and yeast infections among the common symptoms of diabetes.
Slow-healing cuts and sores
Small wounds that take weeks to close, or keep getting infected, are a sign the CDC flags for type 2 diabetes. High blood sugar impairs circulation and the immune response that repairs skin.
Dark patches of skin
Velvety, darkened skin around the neck, armpits or groin, called acanthosis nigricans, is a type 2 sign tied to insulin resistance, meaning the body's cells respond less effectively to insulin.
Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
Both the CDC and the American Diabetes Association flag tingling, pain or numbness in the extremities as signs of nerve damage from prolonged high blood sugar, known as diabetic neuropathy.
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When to ask for a test
The American Diabetes Association's Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026 recommends routine screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes starting at age 35 for all adults.
Adults younger than 35 should be screened if they have overweight or obesity plus one or more risk factors. Those include family history, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, a history of gestational diabetes and physical inactivity.
Screening options include a fasting plasma glucose test, an A1C blood test or an oral glucose tolerance test. If the first result is normal, the ADA recommends repeating the test at least every three years.
Anyone noticing several of these symptoms should ask their doctor for a test rather than wait for the next annual check-up.
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This article is made and published by Jesper Bengtson, who may have used AI in the preparation.