why diabetic patients feel hungry?

Why diabetic patients feel hungry?

Polyphagia is the medical term used to describe excessive hunger or increased appetite and is one of the main signs of diabetes. Also known as hyperphagia , it is one of the two main symptoms of diabetes, along with:

1. Polydipsia (increased thirst) and

2. Polyuria (frequent, excessive urination)

Causes of polyphagia

Polyphagia can be caused by:

• Diabetes mellitus

• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels)

• Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels)

• Anxiety

• Stress

• Depression

• Bulimia

• Binge eating disorder

• Hyperthyroidism (raised level of thyroid hormone)

Hunger and hyperglycemia

In uncontrolled diabetes where blood glucose levels remain abnormally high ( hyperglycemia ), glucose from the blood cannot enter the cells – due to either a lack of insulin or insulin resistance – so the body can’t convert the food you eat into energy. This lack of energy causes an increase in hunger.

Simply eating will not get rid of the hungry feeling of polyphagia in people with uncontrolled diabetes, as this will just add to the already high blood glucose levels. The best way to lower blood glucose levels is to exercise as this can help to stimulate insulin production and reduce blood sugar levels.

However, if the hunger persists, you may need to consult your doctor or diabetes health care team.

Hunger and hypoglycemia

Increased appetite can also be caused by abnormally low blood glucose (hypoglycemia). If blood glucose readings fall below 4 mmol/l, the body usually responds by releasing stored glucose from the liver to raise glucose levels back to normal.

However, people with diabetes that take medication such as insulin and sulfonylureas are at risk of developing a severe form of hypoglycemia and should therefore treat low blood glucose levels by eating something sweet as soon as hypoglycemia is recognised.

Common symptoms of diabetes

• Polydipsia : abnormally great thirst as a symptom of disease (such as diabetes) or psychological disturbance.

• Polyuria: production of abnormally large volumes of dilute urine.

• Polyphagia: excessive eating or appetite, especially as a symptom of disease.

• Fatigue: extreme tiredness resulting from mental or physical exertion or illness.

• Dizziness : a sensation of spinning around and losing one's balance.

• Weight Loss : a decrease in body weight.

• Blurred Vision : Lack of sharpness of vision with, as a result, the inability to see fine detail.

• Slow Healing Wound : A skin wound that doesn't heal, heals slowly or heals but tends to recur is known as a chronic wound.

• Genetial Itchiness : Vaginal itching is an uncomfortable and sometimes painful symptom that often occurs due to irritating substances, infections, or menopause.

• Nausea : a feeling of sickness with an inclination to vomit.

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