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. DENTON COUNTY Living Well Magazine | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017 47