Early Signs Of Diabetes
Both types of diabetes have some of the same telltale warning signs.
- Hunger and fatigue. Your body converts the food you eat into glucose that your cells use for energy. But your cells need insulin to take in glucose. If your body doesn’t make enough or any insulin, or if your cells resist the insulin your body makes, the glucose can’t get into them and you have no energy. This can make you hungrier and more tired than usual.
- Peeing more often and being thirstier. The average person usually has to pee between four and seven times in 24 hours, but people with diabetes may go a lot more. Why? Normally, your body reabsorbs glucose as it passes through your kidneys. But when diabetes pushes your blood sugar up, your kidneys may not be able to bring it all back in. This causes the body to make more urine, and that takes fluids. The result: You’ll have to go more often. You might pee out more, too. Because you’re peeing so much, you can get very thirsty. When you drink more, you’ll also pee more.
- Dry mouth and itchy skin. Because your body is using fluids to make pee, there’s less moisture for other things. You could get dehydrated, and your mouth may feel dry. Dry skin can make you itchy.
- Blurred vision. Changing fluid levels in your body could make the lenses in your eyes swell up. They change shape and canââ¬â¢t focus.
Cuts Or Wounds That Are Very Slow To Heal
Its not uncommon for an individual with high blood sugars to get a bruise or cut that just does not heal.
This is particularly common on the extremities that are furthest from the heart, like hands or feet.
Why does this happen?: Sugar lingering in the bloodstream begins to damage the arteries and veins, which restricts circulation. Blood is required to facilitate healing, so limited circulation to a wound or bruise will slow the healing process dramatically.
You’re Always Exhausted After Eating
Take a moment to think about how you feel after eating a sugary meal. If you need a cup of coffee or start to fall asleep at your desk at work, it could be due to wavering blood sugar levels.
“People who process sugar normally and quickly tend to feel energized, satiated, and calm after ingesting sugar,” Dale says. “People who are more sensitive to it feel tired, irritable, and tend to actually crave more sugar, aka the withdrawal/addiction response.”
It’s this craving that’ll send you pawing through your desk, looking for candy or cookies or something to help you get through the rest of the day. And that can be a sign sugar isn’t agreeing well with your body.
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Excessive Thirst Is One Of The Classic Early Signs Of Diabetes
Drinking unusually large amounts of fluids throughout the day and even overnight is a glaring symptom.
Intake can be something like 4 litres or more per day. You can even start to feel thirsty immediately after youve just had a drink.
The more you drink, the more you urinate, which feeds back into the excessive urination cycle.
Why does this happen?: This is the bodys response to increased urination. With all that extra fluid loss, you become very dry and thirsty.
How To Treat Someone Who’s Unconscious Or Very Sleepy
Follow these steps:
They may need to go to hospital if they’re being sick , or their blood sugar level drops again.
Tell your diabetes care team if you ever have a severe hypo that caused you to lose consciousness.
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How Does Illness Affect Blood Sugar Levels
When you get sick whether it’s a minor illness like a cold or a bigger problem the body sees the illness as stress. To deal with the stress, it releases hormones that increase sugar in the blood.
In one way, this is good because it helps supply the extra fuel the body needs. But in a person with diabetes, it can lead to blood sugar levels that are too high. Some illnesses cause the opposite problem. If you don’t feel like eating or have nausea or vomiting, and you’re taking the same amount of insulin you normally do, your blood sugar levels can get too low.
Blood sugar levels can be very unpredictable when you’re sick. Because you can’t be sure how the illness will affect them, it’s important to check blood sugar levels often on sick days and change your insulin doses as needed.
Also Watch For High Blood Sugar
If youre not eating due to an acute illness like the flu or an infection, its also common for your blood sugars to rise.
When you have diabetes and are acutely ill, you should check your blood sugars up to four times per day, drink plenty of fluids and contact your doctor if your blood sugars are consistently over 250, Garvey says.
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If Youre Taking Steroids
Some conditions, like Addison’s disease, severe asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are treated with steroids. If you have diabetes, taking high doses of steroids for periods of time can make your blood sugar levels rise. This is called steroid-induced hyperglycaemia. Your doctor or nurse will talk to you about this. They may ask you to make some changes to how you manage your diabetes, so that you can keep your blood sugar levels within your target range.
Some people with coronavirus are being treated with a type of steroid called dexamethasone. Not everyone with coronavirus will need this steroid its only used in hospital when someone is really unwell and needs help to breathe. It works by reducing the inflammation that coronavirus can cause and supports your immune system to fight it.
While this works well for treating coronavirus, its not so good when it comes to diabetes. Dexamethasone makes your body more resistant to insulin, making your blood sugar levels go very high. If youre given dexamethasone, you may need insulin to help reduce your blood sugar levels. If you already take insulin, you may need to take more or take a different one that does a better job of bringing your blood sugars down.
Diabetic Gastroparesis: Can Diabetes Make You Feel Sick After Eating
We all feel sick to our stomach after eating occasionally and for many people, that’ll be a sign that they’re ill, or that the food they ate didn’t agree with them. Some people with diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, however, complain that they’re often nauseous after eating anything from a sugary snack to a healthy but light meal.
In case you were wondering if your diabetes could be to blame, the answer is a resounding “yes”. The mechanisms behind this unpleasant symptom can, however, vary significantly.
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Sugar Makes Me Feel Sick: Causes And Treatments
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When to See a Doctor
- If your nausea is mild and there may be nothing to worry about. However, if it is severe and you experience it very frequently, or it persists for a longer duration, do consult your doctor.
- If you have any underlying medical conditions like diabetes or heart disease, you need urgent medical advice.
- If there is any excessive or blood stained vomit, fever, confusion or pain accompanying the nausea after eating sweets, get immediate medical help.
How To Deal With Nausea After Sugar Consumption
Sugar makes me feel sick, why? Now you know the answer, so how to deal with this condition?
Check the Causes
If you feel sick or nauseous every time you eat sugar, the best thing is to see your doctor. They can do the required investigations like blood glucose levels test and an allergy test if they are suspecting sugar allergy. Proper diagnosis is necessary for adequate treatment. When the cause of nausea is identified, you can modify your diet with the help of a dietician or nutritionist. They can suggest the right diet plan for you to fit your lifestyle and medical condition.
Deal with Nausea
You can discuss with your doctor regarding the following home remedies for nausea:
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When You Have Diabetes Its Important To Know How To Cope When Youre Unwell Especially If You Have To Go Into Hospital
Being ill can upset your diabetes management, so you need to know what to do to keep your blood glucose levels as close to target as possible. Some people will know these as sick day rules.
You’ll need to know how to manage insulin or other diabetes medications, blood or urine tests, and your diet. This is really important if you go into hospital or if you need to take steroids as part of your treatment. Always tell the healthcare professionals treating you that you have diabetes.
Tingling Or Numbness In Hands Or Feet
A tingling or numb sensation in the bodys extremities such as hands and feet is a common early sign of diabetes.
It tends to occur first thing in the morning after you wake up, and can even feel more like a burning sensation.
Why does this happen?: Sugar that lingers in the blood will begin to damage nerves and nerve-endings. Nerves that are furthest from the heart are not well repaired due to circulation problems.
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What Is Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Diabetic ketoacidosis happens when your blood sugar is high and your insulin level is low. This imbalance in the body causes a build-up of ketones. Ketones are toxic. If DKA isnt treated, it can lead to diabetic coma and even death.
DKA mainly affects people who have type 1 diabetes. But it can also happen with other types of diabetes, including type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes .
You’ve Been Feeling Emotional Lately
An unstable mood can be caused, in many ways, by blood sugar fluctuations, which Hershenson says can impact how you feel. Studies have also shown a connection between the intake of sweet foods, beverages and added sugars, and symptoms of depression.
What you eat really can play a large role in how you feel overall, including mentally and emotionally. While speaking with a therapist will always be a good idea if you aren’t feeling like yourself, it can also help to pay attention to what you’re eating on a daily basis.
If you’re consuming a lot of sugar, you might notice a big difference if you balance out meals in a way that keeps your blood sugar even. Or by lessening your sugar intake and seeing how that makes you feel.
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Can Diabetes Cause Nausea
Diabetes mellitus, more commonly known as diabetes, is known to cause numerous complications.
One of the potentially lesser-known side effects of diabetes is nausea. Nausea can occur because of medications, untreated high blood sugar, among other reasons. Not everyone who has diabetes will develop nausea.
Still, its essential for people with diabetes to know how to take care of their diabetes and minimize their likelihood of developing this unpleasant condition.
Why Do I Feel Sick When I Eat Sugar
So, you’ve been sticking to your diet diligently for a month or two and decide to have a decadent ‘cheat’ dessert.
It could be a sundae or a slice of cake, but instead of a pleasant sugar rush, you start to feel queasy.
Nausea, sinus congestion, sluggishness, stomach cramping, gas, and bloating can all be the consequence of your momentary indulgence. So why can’t your body handle a little detour off your healthy diet?
There can be many potential causes of feeling sick after eating sugar – but here are the ones I see most.
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Slurred Speech And Clumsiness
Your sugar-starved brain may change the way you sound. Slurred speech is a common symptom associated with blood sugar levels that drop below 40 mg/dL, according to University of Michigan Health Systems. Combined with clumsiness another sign of low blood sugar you may seem as though you’ve had a few too many cocktails, even if you haven’t touched a drop, according to the National Health Service.
For more on managing low blood sugar, check out Diabetes Daily’s article “How to Treat Lows Without Sabotaging Your Diet!“
How To Eat Sugar And Avoid ‘sugar Hangovers’
First, you should try to stay in the recommended range for daily intake of sugar, which is about 50 grams of added sugar per day. “You should aim to keep your added sugar intake at 10 percent or less of daily calories. For a 2,000-calorie daily diet that would be no more than 200 calories or 50 grams of added sugar per day,” says Gorin.
“Besides keeping your daily total sugar intake at or below the 50 grams per day guidelines, you should also avoid eating lots of sugar in one sitting,” she adds. “Spacing out the sugar you eat throughout the day will be easier on your body and blood sugar. Again, combining sugar with other foods that contain protein, fat, and or fiber will also help you feel more balanced.”
Another tip from Gorin on reducing sugar intake and avoiding a sugar hangover is to make your own dessert at home. This way you can control exactly what goes in your food and there is no guessing about how much sugar you could be eating. “One of the easiest ways to reduce your intake of added sugars is to make your own desserts that don’t contain any added sugars,” says Gorin. “For instance, you can make a homemade ‘nice cream’ or even a chocolate pudding that doesn’t contain any added sugars. These recipes are sweetened naturally with fruit,” says Gorin.
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Sugar Hangovers: Why You Feel Bad After You Eat Sugar
Crashing after you eat sugar? It’s a common issue that can be avoided with these tips.
Sugar is the black sheep of the health and wellness world. Whether you love it, avoid it like the plague or fall somewhere in between, sugar is one of the most hotly debated topics in health. A very real, yet perplexing situation, is what I call a sugar “hangover.” No matter what you call it, feeling tired or dizzy after eating sugar can happen, but what does it mean exactly?
One minute you can be riding a sugar high, and the next you feel just plain gross. Sometimes it happens right away, or has a delayed effect . While you may not get a full-fledged “hangover” every time you eat sugar, even feeling a little bit bad is annoying. To find out why this happens I talked to Amy Gorin, a registered dietician and owner of Plant-Based Eats.
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The Other Jab Kids Must Have
Last month I wrote that I was worried that thousands of teenagers had missed out on vital vaccines they are supposed to have at school, having spent so much time out of the classroom.
Official figures showed that uptake of the HPV jab given to year eight students to protect against human papillomavirus were down on the year before.
I am pleased to report that, from what Im hearing, most pupils have been jabbed by now as part of catch-up programmes for both HPV and meningitis. My teenage son received his last week I do reflect on how incredible it is that we are vaccinating a generation against some of the most horrible cancers that HPV causes.
If you think your child or grandchild has slipped through the net, and still hasnt had a jab, get in touch with your GP and ask whats going on.
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You Constantly Run Out Of Motivation
Aside from flagging energy levels, take note if you’ve been lacking motivation lately. “If you feel drowsy and tired after eating a sugar-heavy snack, then you should realize that your body is not burning or storing glucose at the rate you are consuming it,”nutritionist Parker Condit tells Bustle. “In addition to this being a lousy way to live, it’s also an indicator that something is wrong If all you feel like doing is sleeping and lounging around, then it’s time to start being more aware of what you are consuming.”
It may be that eating a lot of sugar isn’t working for you, and that it’s officially time to consider eating and drinking less of it. It can certainly take some time to get used to the change, and it doesn’t mean you can’t have sugar on occasion. But sometimes the payoff is worth the initial adjustment phase, especially when it comes to your health.
Studies referenced:
Avena, N. . Evidence for sugar addiction: Behavioral and neurochemical effects of intermittent, excessive sugar intake. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2235907/
Della Corte, K. . Effect of Dietary Sugar Intake on Biomarkers of Subclinical Inflammation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Intervention Studies. Nutrients. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5986486/
St-Onge, Marie-Pierre. . Effects of Diet on Sleep Quality. Advances in Nutrition. 7: 938â949. doi: 10.3945/an.116.012336
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