Denton County Living Well Magazine November/December 2017 | Page 49

cause you’re urinating more frequently, you also may no-
tice increased thirst.
2. FATIGUE. Extreme tiredness often is a byproduct of in-
creased urination, Dr. Wesson says. “For one thing, you’re
losing a lot of fluid, and that can make you feel tired,”
he says. “But you also have to remember that one of the
problems with diabetes is that your body is not able to
adequately use sugar. So if you’re losing that energy in the
urine, you have less of it to support your daily activities and
will become tired more easily.”
3. BLURRY VISION. Diabetes affects every part of the
body, including the eyes. High blood sugar causes the lens-
es of the eyes to swell, which can blur vision. With medica-
tion to stabilize blood sugar levels, however, blurry vision
usually self-corrects, Dr. Wesson says.
4. SLOW-TO-HEAL CUTS AND BRUISES. If you notice
even minor cuts and bruises are taking longer than usual to heal,
get to your doctor promptly. Delayed healing can be a sign of
advanced diabetes. “Prolonged high blood sugar—we’re talk-
ing over many months or even years—can injure blood vessels
both small and large,” Dr. Wesson says. “That compromises the
amount of blood flow to the tissue that’s required for healing.”
5. NUMBNESS, PAIN OR
TINGLING IN HANDS OR FEET.
These too are symptoms of advanced diabetes and should
be checked out by your doctor. “High blood sugar for
a prolonged period of time can also hurt nerves,” Dr.
Wesson says. “Called diabetic neuropathy, it’s when the
nerves activate on their own, causing pain and tingling
for reasons we don’t understand.”
Baylor Scott & White Health provides a comprehensive approach to the care of
patients with diabetes. Find a physician on the medical staff specializing in
diabetes care. Call 1-800-4BAYLOR or visit BSWHealth.com/Diabetes today.
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