Fed up of “watch your sugar” warnings? This World Diabetes Day, let’s shine a light on those sneaky signs almost nobody talks about - your body’s not-so-direct SOS calls.

Diabetes is not all about sugar. Seriously, how many times have you heard, “cut back on sweets,” and just rolled your eyes? The reality is, high blood sugar’s just the tip of the (melting) iceberg. Diabetes can show up in bizarre ways - sometimes so out of left field, you’d never connect the dots. A friend in Mumbai once complained that his vision went fuzzy for a week and wrote it off as too many hours glued to the IPL. Turns out it was a warning sign his blood sugar was off-kilter.

Oddball Signs: Beyond the Obvious

Now, we all know about relentless thirst, the loo trips, and that weird exhaustion that whacks you out mid-day. But, get this:

• Dark, velvety skin patches on the neck or armpits - Acanthosis nigricans, the medical term, happens when insulin resistance goes unnoticed for too long.
• Unusual infections popping up serially - mouth sores, yeast, skin boils, even persistent UTIs. It’s not “just the weather,” folks, it might be the body’s immune system waving a distress flag.
• Noticeable hair fall or thinning - Yes, really. A friend’s barbershop gossip led her to the doctor, who found her glucose levels were wrecking her follicles.
• Lightheadedness or dizziness - especially after a meal or when standing up suddenly. Not (always) low blood pressure. Sometimes, it’s sugar highs and lows yanking your body off balance.

Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes to Watch Out for in Children.

(Summer health)

• Vision that comes and goes - Not just age, not just screens. Fluctuating glucose swells the eye’s lens, so on some days you can read WhatsApp messages, and on others, it’s all a blur.
• “Fruity” breath - It’s ketones; when the body burns fat uncontrollably, this chemical dance lets out a whiff that’s oddly sweet, but actually dangerous.
• Tingling in hands and feet, or random itchiness - People think it’s dry weather or an old mattress. Nerve trouble from unchecked diabetes whispers louder than you imagine.
• Mood swings and irritability - Crabby out of nowhere? That might be your body’s not-so-subtle complaint about insulin going haywire.

The Research: Not Cookie-Cutter, Definitely Crucial

In a new study, researchers led by Prof. Pramod Wangikar from IIT Bombay; Dr. Rakesh Kumar Sahay and Dr. Manisha Sahay from Osmania Medical College, along with researchers from Clarity Bio Systems India Pvt. Ltd., Pune, used metabolomics—the study of small molecules in the… pic.twitter.com/fMQcCzc7Oj

— IIT Bombay (@iitbombay) November 4, 2025

(@iitbombay/X)

Just a week back, Indian researchers at IIT Bombay spotted “hidden blood markers” that can show up before diabetes even strikes. New data reveals that it’s not just about glucose anymore. There are oddball molecules - like valerobetaine and ribothymidine - that might forecast trouble way before that first HbA1c test throws you the dreaded number. Global reality? Nearly 44% of diabetics worldwide don’t even know they are walking biological time bombs - almost every second case goes undetected.

Thyrocare’s Research on Rising Diabetes Prevalence across Various Age Groups

(PTI)

Everyday Reality: Listen to Your Gut (And the Symptoms You Start to Notice)

What You Need to Know About the Two Main Types of Diabetes

(Bhaskar English)

Nobody’s saying you should panic every time you’re grumpy or your toes tingle. But ignore these signals, and, well, diabetes doesn’t play nice when it arrives unannounced. If you notice a cluster of these oddball issues - better to call your doc for a quick check than to dismiss it as “just stress” or “not drinking enough nariyal pani.”

You’ll see endless social media “Diabetes Day” posts with blue circles and quotes about courage. But perhaps the true bravery is in noticing the weird, the offbeat, and the unexplained

This year, look beyond sugar cubes. Listen closely - your body might be trying to tell you a whole story in riddles and it’s high time we solved the mystery before it becomes every-day, not just World Diabetes Day.