What's Inside
Everything should be balanced in the human body. Though we prefer moderate eating and a healthy diet for a person with diabetes, it doesn’t mean the person should not eat properly. The choices and portions must be healthy and nutrient-rich.
How Does Diabetes Cause Loss Of Appetite?
Normally, loss of appetite is not part of diabetes. Diabetic people tend to have increased appetite that is difficult to control. To stay healthy, we need to have a desire to eat and we should intake sufficient nutrients.
What if you are diabetic and do not feel hungry even while your stomach is empty? A number of reasons can cause loss of appetite in people with diabetes.
🩸 Hunger And Diabetes
When we are hungry, our body identifies the need for food and sends signals to the brain to eat. Hormones like Ghrelin and leptin help us to feel the need for food and the fullness of our stomach. Diabetes is a condition in which all bodily activities are disturbed.
You cannot skip meals if you are diabetic as it increases complications. Diabetes is a condition in which your body does not produce insulin or does not use it properly.
As insulin allows using of the sugar from carbs to produce energy, imbalanced insulin production causes high blood sugar and related complications. Loss of appetite is one of the complications of diabetes that is not common.
🩸 Why Do People With Diabetes Lose Appetite?
It is reported that about 1 in 10 of the American population is affected by diabetics and related complications.
The most common is Type 2 diabetes. Even though the loss of appetite is not a common symptom, it is a possible complication of diabetes. Here are the major causes of loss of appetite for people with diabetes.
- Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis is a digestive disorder caused by diabetes. It can be seen in people with poorly controlled diabetes. Here, the food that we intake moves slowly through the digestive tract as a result of damaged nerves, and the person feels full for a longer duration. The nerves that help in contracting the muscles of the intestines are damaged due to diabetes. Experts counted Gastroparesis as one of the major complications of diabetes.
- High blood sugar
If the diabetes is not under control and your blood sugar is very high, you may feel fatigued and lose appetite.
- Long term use of medicines
People with diabetes have to use diabetes control medicines for a longer duration. It is suggested along with diet and exercises too. The long-term use of drugs or other category medicines may have side effects. Loss of appetite is noted as one.
- Anxiety and depression
Anxiety and depression are common in people with diabetes and they can be the reason for the loss of appetite. Managing diabetes, family, and the work together is a huge task and it can be the reason for people to feel depressed.
- Colds and flu
People with diabetes may also have colds or flu at a regular interval. The sick feeling can be the reason for the loss of appetite.
🩸 What Can You Do Now?
As loss of appetite can affect your nutrient level and activeness, it is a condition that needs to be taken care of. It is important to get your doctor’s advice before doing anything as adjusting the diabetes medicines can avoid further complications. Before visiting the doctor it is good to keep a record of your appetite and intake as it is easier for the doctor.
Conclusion
Loss of appetite is a complication of diabetes though it is not common. Sufficient nutrients and calories must be taken in even if you are diabetic. So it is important to regulate appetite too. Visit your doctor when you have a loss of appetite for more than one week as it can be neglected once in a while.
