Almost six million people in the UK are living with diabetes, but more than a million of those do not know they have it, according to Diabetes UK. A pharmacist has now highlighted a warning sign that many people miss: frequent urination.
Abbas Kanani, Superintendent Pharmacist at Chemist Click, said: "One of the most common early symptoms of diabetes is needing to urinate more often than usual. When blood sugar levels are high, the body tries to get rid of excess glucose through the urine, which leads to increased bathroom visits. This can sometimes be most noticeable at night, when people find they are waking up more frequently to use the toilet."
Diabetes UK Data Highlights Scale of the Condition
Data from Diabetes UK shows there are almost six million people in the UK living with diabetes, including more than 4.7 million people with a confirmed diagnosis and 1.3 million who are unaware they are living with the life-threatening condition. The charity stresses the importance of early diagnosis, as undiagnosed diabetes can lead to serious complications affecting the heart, eyes, kidneys and nerves.
Other Early Symptoms to Watch For
Frequent urination, known medically as polyuria, occurs when high blood sugar levels cause the kidneys to work harder to remove excess glucose from the body, leading to increased fluid loss. Diabetes UK advises that other early symptoms of diabetes can include feeling very thirsty, feeling more tired than usual, and losing weight without trying.
Kanani added: "It's important to look at the whole picture. If frequent urination is happening alongside symptoms such as increased thirst, tiredness or unexplained weight changes, it's worth speaking to a healthcare professional and getting blood sugar levels checked. Early detection can make a significant difference in long-term management."
When to Seek Medical Advice
Kanani notes that while needing to use the toilet more often can have many causes, including increased fluid intake, caffeine consumption or urinary tract infections, it is the pattern and persistence of symptoms that matters most. Chemist Click recommends speaking to a GP if changes in urination habits persist or are accompanied by other symptoms of high blood sugar.
"People often dismiss early symptoms because they can seem harmless or easy to explain away. But diabetes is a condition where early awareness really matters. Recognising small changes in the body, like increased trips to the toilet, can help people seek advice sooner and potentially avoid complications later on," Kanani said.
Tips for Recognising Early Signs of Diabetes
- Needing to urinate more frequently, especially at night
- Increased thirst that doesn't go away
- Feeling unusually tired or fatigued
- Unexplained weight loss
- Blurred vision
