1:57 PM
Friday November 18, 2022
Diabetes occurs when the body is unable to absorb sugar (glucose) into its cells and use it for energy, and as a result, the extra sugar builds up in the bloodstream.
According to Russia Today, diabetes is a common disease that can have serious consequences and there are two different types of the disease, type 1 and type 2.
In the first type, the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin, meaning that the body cannot produce insulin.
As for the second type, which is more common, it occurs when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or when the body’s cells do not interact with the insulin.
Left untreated, it can cause a number of different health problems due to the large amounts of glucose damaging blood vessels, nerves and organs.
Diabetes is described as the ‘silent killer’, as many people with it are unaware of it, as they often have no early symptoms.
Some of the main signs of diabetes, which can be seen in both types of the disease, include feeling thirsty, urinating more frequently than usual, especially at night, feeling very tired, losing weight and losing muscle mass.
While these are the most well-known symptoms when it comes to diabetes, there are other “surprising” signs that can be seen in people with diabetes as well, namely:
1- Itching problems
A surprising sign is genital itching or thrush.
Yeast infections can be common in diabetics because sugar promotes the growth of candida.
And the NHS says those with poorly controlled diabetes may suffer from the condition.
This is often because high blood sugar levels also mean high levels in other parts of the body such as sweat, saliva and urine.
The yeast can then overgrow, meaning patients end up with thrush.
2- Wounds and ulcers
Often if you have diabetes, your immune system may not be able to control skin wounds and infections, say health experts at Health Partners Clinic in Bloomington, Indiana.
“High blood sugar can alter blood chemistry in ways that lower the body’s defenses and slow down the immune system,” they added.
This in turn, they said, means cuts and sores will take longer to heal.
For many diabetics, this often leads to foot ulcers, and your doctor will be able to help treat them.
Read also: For diabetics: the 4 best devices for measuring blood sugar
3- Blurring of the eye
Blurred vision is also a common symptom in people with diabetes. Johns Hopkins Medicine experts said diabetes can damage the macula (or yellow dot), the center of the retina that provides direct vision.
And if you have uncontrolled diabetes, you may have leaky blood vessels, which can lead to blurry or distorted vision.
4- Skin disorders
Skin disorders are common among diabetics due to high blood sugar levels, which affect blood vessels and nerves.
Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is more common in people before diagnosis and is a pathological condition characterized by the presence of dark, thick, velvety areas in the folds and wrinkles of the body. It mainly affects the armpits, groin and neck.
5- Hair loss
One of the “surprising” symptoms of diabetes may be hair loss, said Barbie Cervone, a registered dietitian, diabetes care and educator.
She explained via VeryWell: “Hair loss is often associated with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Certain problems caused by diabetes are thought to lead to hair loss, including an immune system disorder called alopecia areata, bad circulation and hypertension . blood sugar level”.
