Every year on 14 November, the world observes World Diabetes Day — a moment to raise awareness about the rising tide of diabetes, how to prevent it, and how to live well with it. For 2025, the theme centres on “World Diabetes Day 2025: Diabetes and the workplace”, underlining the importance of health and well-being across all stages of life, including the professional sphere.
Now, while many of us know the classic symptoms of diabetes, such as excess thirst, frequent urination, and unexplained weight loss, some signs are more subtle, especially in women. But what about the lesser-known symptoms that often go unnoticed until complications have already taken hold?
This year, especially on World Diabetes Day, it is vital that women understand these hidden alarms — symptoms that may seem benign or be dismissed as stress, ageing, or hormonal fluctuation but could signal the beginnings of Type 2 Diabetes (or worsened control). Because women have unique risks (such as pregnancy, hormonal shifts, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS, and vascular changes), it’s crucial to recognise lesser-known symptoms that often get brushed off as “just fatigue” or “just stress”. For many women, these hidden signals may mean early warning of type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes before more serious complications set in.
Why do these signs need extra attention? Because, early recognition can pave the way for timely screening, lifestyle adjustments, and better long-term outcomes.