What are early warning signs of type 2 diabetes that people often miss, especially at a younger age?

Early signs can be subtle and easy to dismiss, especially in younger people who don't expect the diagnosis: increased thirst, more frequent urination, fatigue, slow-healing cuts or infections, and sometimes darkened patches of skin (acanthosis nigricans) around the neck or underarms, which can indicate insulin resistance. Because these can be mild or attributed to other things (stress, being busy, normal tiredness), many cases are actually caught through routine bloodwork rather than someone connecting these symptoms to diabetes on their own. References: https://obesitycanada.ca/healthcare-professionals/adult-clinical-practice-guideline/ https://guidelines.diabetes.ca/GuideLines/media/Docs/Quick%20Reference%20Guide/2024-CPG-Quick-Reference-Guide.pdf