Diabetes and Infections

Shutterstock

Diabetes significantly increases the risk of infection. If you have diabetes, your body is more likely to get infected in the first place, and the infection grows faster and requires medical care more quickly.

Infections in diabetic patients range from nuisance to life-threatening. This article explains why infections are likely to occur, how to prevent them, and how to deal with the specific types of infection that are common in diabetic patients.

If you are infected with pain or open wounds, you should seek medical assistance immediately.

Why infection occurs

The biology of infectious diseases is very complicated, and diabetic people tend to have many types of dysfunction that they combine to slow the healing process and increase resistance through treatment.

• Sweet body environment that increases the pathogenicity of many pathogens
• Immune system dysfunction
• Increased inflammation
• Micro and macroagiopathy (vascular disease)
• Neurological disorders that hide the pain signal from injury
• Reduced antibacterial activity of urine
• Gastrointestinal and urinary dysfunction
• Frequent medical interventions due to other health issues

Most of these problems have one underlying cause of virtually all complications of diabetes, namely hyperglycemia.

therefore, The first line of protection against infection is to bring your blood sugar levels as close to the target range as possible.. Healthy glucose levels are the best way to ensure that your body can fight infections in the way it is built.

Foot infections (pain and wounds)

There are at least two diabetic complications, and the foot is much more likely to develop an infection.

In short, the feet in people with diabetes can both lose sensation and have poor circulation, both of which can lead to difficult-to-treat bacterial and fungal infections. Diabetic patients are very common in those with some degree of neurological damage and insufficient circulation in their lower limbs, and the body’s defense against foot infections is far less effective.

Problems like nerve damage and poor circulation can certainly affect other parts of the body, but the first things that you suffer are generally the feet and feet. And the reduction in foot sensation can help you maintain the injury without your knowledge and allow you to fester the wound before the problem is discovered.

Pain and wounds that have been infected in the foot are a Very big. Amputation is like 10-40 times more likely for people with diabetes.

For all these reasons, diabetics need to take special care of their feet. Many authorities have published foot care checklists like this from the Diabetes Canada Association of Canada (PDF). Here are some highlights:

Footcare Checklist:

• Check your feet every day. Use a mirror if necessary.
• Wash your feet every day
• Make your skin soft and smooth
• Gentle smooth corn and callus
• Trim your toenails regularly if possible
• Do not walk barefoot
• Protect your feet from the warm cold
• Keep blood flowing through your legs
• Become more active
• Talk to your healthcare team, they may be able to direct you to a professional to help if you are unable to perform these tasks.

Some of the above tips are more relevant for those who have lost their foot sensation due to nerve damage. The key is to take your individual situation into consideration and take proactive steps towards foot care. Look at your healthcare provider with the first sign of infection and try to get treatment before it becomes more of a problem.

Bladder infection

Diabetics are much more likely to have bladder infections than people without diabetes. These infections are also known as Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).

UTI involves the ureter, urethra, kidneys, or bladder and can experience pain, fatigue, nausea, and fever. If you have a UTI, it is important to treat the infection as bacteria can spread to the kidneys and cause dangerous kidney infections.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) states that over 50% of diabetics live with some kind of bladder dysfunction and are accompanied by symptoms such as “urinary tension, frequency, nighttime, and incontinence.”

Early detection and treatment of bladder infections is important.

Be aware of your symptoms and report it to your healthcare provider as soon as possible.

Symptoms of bladder infection

According to Mayo Clinic, symptoms include:

• Strong, persistent impulses to urinate
• Burning sensation when urinating
• Frequently passing small amounts of urine
• Urine that looks cloudy
• Urine that appears red, bright pink or cola-colored – signs of blood in the urine
• Strong scented urine
• Pelvic pain in women, especially around the pelvic center and pubic bone

It is also important to note that UTIs present different symptoms in older people. Elderly patients are less likely to experience pain or physical discomfort, with or without diabetes. More generally, UTIs are presented as “delirium or confusion in the absence of fever.”

If you are experiencing these symptoms, call your healthcare provider.

Skin infection

Diabetes also increases the risk of a huge number of skin complications, including bacterial and fungal skin infections. Like any infectious disease, the best protection is to take care of the skin, beware of early symptoms, and get early treatment before the infection worsens.

There are two families of skin infections: fungi and bacteria.

Bacterial infections:

• Style (infection of the glands of the eyelids)
• Boil folliculitis (hair follicle infection)
• Carbuncle (deep infection of the skin and the tissues below)
• Infection around the nail

Bacterial infections usually show redness, swelling, pain, tenderness, or warmth at the site of the infection, around the nails, scalp, and eyes. Bacterial infections generally require antibiotics as treatment.

Fungal infection

Fungi may find the body of a diabetic patient particularly friendly. Because they can literally eat excess sugar. The organisms that cause these infections usually prefer warm, damp areas of the body. These infections can be itchy rashes characterized by dry, scaly skin and blisters.

People with diabetes may be prone to several common fungal infections.

• Tinus
• Inkin tama
• Vaginal yeast infection
• Athlete’s feet

Fungal infections require special treatment. Again, catching an infection in the early stages will lead to faster and more successful treatment. Many targeted antifungal remedies are available.

Yeast infection

Women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop vaginal yeast infections. It is one of the lesser known diabetic complications and is difficult to talk about.

Yeast infections are caused by named microscopic yeast Candida albicans.

It is natural and common for these small organisms to live in and on our bodies. But too much growth can be an unpleasant (and sometimes dangerous) issue. Most of the time, our bodies effectively maintain growth Candida Yeast checks, but diabetes discards balance from banging in several ways.

First, hyperglycemia levels also increase sugar levels in other body fluids, including mucus, which line the vagina and vulva. This makes the diabetic body a very kind place for these microorganisms, as yeast and other fungi thrive on sugar. Second, diabetics often suffer from impairing the immune system and a decrease in their ability to infect them after infection has settled.

Vaginal yeast infections can cause multiple unpleasant symptoms.

• Moist red rash and/or swelling
• itch
• White vaginal discharge, which can be compared to cottage cheese
• Small blisters and scales
• Pain, discomfort, or burning sensations while urinating or having sex

Symptoms may initially be mild and are almost inconspicuous. Early application of over-the-counter antifungal treatments is effective, but diabetics may be wise to find a doctor earlier than later.

The earlier you start treatment for yeast infections, the more likely the treatment will be to be more effective. If over-the-counter treatment doesn’t improve your infection or you’re back, it’s definitely time to see a doctor who can recommend stronger antifungals and prescribe them.

Oral infections

Living with diabetes means that caring for your oral health is even more important than the average person. Diabetes is also more likely to cause a variety of mouth and gum infections. Tooth loss is more common in people with diabetes, especially those with high blood sugar levels.

Surprisingly, caring for your teeth appears to have a positive metabolic effect. Studies suggest that brushing teeth can even lower A1c levels.

Gingivitis and periodontitis

Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums – it usually precedes the onset of periodontitis (gingival disease). These are one of the most common oral complications for people living with diabetes. 22% of diabetic patients have a measure of periodontitis.

These issues arise for several reasons:

• Immune system dysfunction
• Vascular thickening limits nutritional supply
• High sugar levels provide fuel to bacteria.

These issues can creep up on you – inspect the mouth of red, puffy, swollen gums and be careful if brushing or flossing causes a lot of bleeding. If not treated early, the gums may begin to recede from the teeth. This is a more serious situation.

Pain and cuts are not healed

Infections in the mouth slow to heal for the same reasons as infections in the feet, feet and other places. Hyperglycemia inhibits the body’s immune system’s ability to fight viruses and bacteria. If you have any wounds that do not heal, seek medical care.

Thrush

Thrush is a yeast infection and is caused by a named fungus Candida It is usually harmless. Small and harmless amounts can be found in the mouths of many perfectly healthy people. However, the large amount of sugar in saliva Candida It can grow faster and start to cause problems. The weakening of the immune system is also not that good to combat.

Thrush can cause mouth, discomfort and pain. It can affect the tongue, cheeks, mouth roof, or lips. This can lead to white patches and spots. Antibiotics can also increase the risk of infection.