Your doctor has already warned you about major type 2 diabetes complications such as vision loss and kidney disease. But chronic high blood sugar can also have a number of frustrating lesser known results, from bad breath to hair loss.
Type 2 diabetes happens when the body doesn’t use the hormone insulin effectively, leading to high blood sugar. Lifestyle changes, blood sugar monitoring, and medications can help manage the condition. But unchecked high blood sugar levels can start to wreak havoc on the entire body. These complications range from annoying to debilitating, and may be a warning sign that you need a new approach to your diabetes management.
1. Skin Tags
Skin tags that aren’t bothersome don’t have to be removed. But your dermatologist can easily freeze or cut them off if they cause discomfort. However, skin tags may be a sign that your diabetes management needs to improve. If you suspect that new skin tags are the result of blood sugar issues, work with your doctor to make sure that your blood sugar gets under control.
2. Bad Breath
Seek immediate medical attention if your breath has a sweet or fruity odor. Fruity-smelling breath can be a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening condition during which acids called ketones build up in the bloodstream because of low insulin. DKA usually happens when blood sugar levels are high (more than 250 milligrams per deciliter) and is often the result of a dehydrating illness like a stomach flu. Test your blood sugar if you suspect this is the case.
Other symptoms of this condition include the following:
- Fatigue
- Dry or flushed skin
- Nausea or vomiting
- Confusion
- Trouble breathing
3. Unusual Sweating
It’s normal to get a little sweaty when you’re eating spicy foods. But profuse perspiration that pops up after most meals could be related to type 2 diabetes. Diabetes can make you sweat.
One phenomenon, called gustatory sweating or Frey syndrome, can happen when chronic high blood sugar damages the nerves that control the body’s involuntary functions, including sweating.
Topical antiperspirants may not control this sweating. Treatment for Frey syndrome, which usually occurs on the face and scalp, may include regular Botox injections to the spots that tend to sweat. Surgery to remove the affected nerves also may be an option.
Diabetes-related nerve damage can cause a number of other irregular sweating patterns, such as night sweats, too little sweating, or sweating for no apparent reason. Controlling your blood sugar may be the best treatment for abnormal sweating, but any of these issues are worth asking a doctor about.
4. Yeast Infections
Oral or topical antifungal medications are typically the go-to for treating yeast infections. Your doctor or ob-gyn can help you decide on the right treatment for you. Controlling your blood sugar can help keep new infections from coming back. You can also try lifestyle changes such as avoiding douching or scented feminine products, quickly removing clothing when it gets wet or sweaty, and wearing cotton underwear and loose-fitting bottoms.
5. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Diabetes can cause nerve damage that leads to numbness and tingling in the fingers and toes. But if you notice tingling in your thumb or fingers (but not your pinky) that feels like an electric shock, it could be a sign of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Although repetitive hand movements and wrist anatomy contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome, it may also have a link to type 2 diabetes. As many as 15 percent of people with diabetes may have carpal tunnel syndrome, and having type 2 diabetes may increase your risk of developing it by 90 percent.
- Wearing a wrist splint at night
- Taking over-the-counter pain medications
- Corticosteroid injections
- Surgery, if other treatments are unsuccessful
Carpal tunnel syndrome is just one of several hand complications, which are known collectively as diabetic hand syndrome. If your fingers or thumb are unusually stiff, bent, or even locked into place, you should see your doctor for treatment.
6. Hair Loss
Hair loss is a natural part of aging for many men and women. But diabetes could also be the reason behind thinning or lost hair, though research on the topic is limited.
Over time, blood vessel damage caused by high blood sugar could make it harder for oxygen and nutrients to reach the scalp and hair follicles, curbing the growth of new strands.
Controlling your blood sugar and using topical hair-loss treatments such as minoxidil can be helpful.
If your hair loss feels especially sudden or unnatural, talk to your doctor, who may be able to refer you to a dermatologist to find the right option for you.
7. Erectile Dysfunction
You may be able to improve ED symptoms by controlling your blood sugar with lifestyle changes such as choosing healthier foods, exercising, and losing weight if you are overweight. Medications such as sildenafil (Viagra) or vardenafil (Levitra) can help treat ED when lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough. Your doctor can talk you through potential interactions and risks, and help you determine a plan for managing both conditions.
ED is just one of several potential sexual side effects to diabetes; other conditions include painful intercourse for women and loss of libido in both men and women.
8. Brain Fog
Having brain fog, or difficulty focusing or remembering things, could be the result of high or low blood sugar from type 2 diabetes.
High blood sugar can reduce blood flow to the brain when it damages the brain’s blood vessels, leading to an increased risk for cognitive decline and dementia over time. You might also have trouble concentrating when your blood sugar takes a big dip because your brain is low on fuel. If you’re feeling fuzzy, it’s a very good idea to check your blood sugar, as you may be able to intervene before even worse symptoms occur.
Your strategy for staying as sharp as possible in the long term: Keep your blood sugar levels within your target range, in addition to a healthy diet, exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight. If you smoke, ask your doctor about help with quitting. Even if your type 2 diabetes is under control, smoking can still harm brain function.
9. Itchy Skin
An uncontrollable urge to scratch could be a sign or side effect of diabetes. High blood sugar may lead to poor circulation that causes skin changes such as itchy dryness and scaling, especially on your legs.
You often can manage mild itching at home. Keep showers or baths short, especially when the weather is dry, and slather on moisturizer as soon as you towel off to lock in hydration. If the itch is painful, your doctor may recommend a topical pain reliever such as capsaicin or lidocaine.
The Takeaway
- Symptoms such as bad breath, sweating after meals, and persistent itchiness may be the result of elevated blood sugar levels associated with type 2 diabetes.
- Some symptoms, such as fruity breath or brain fog, can be a sign of an oncoming medical emergency, and may need rapid treatment.
- Though complications like itchiness and hair loss may not seem to be medically urgent, it’s a good idea to discuss them with your doctor, as they could be a sign that your blood sugar management strategy needs a change.
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