Diabetes And Excessive Hunger – Causes And Symptoms!

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What's Inside

Diabetes and excessive hunger, which is called Polyphagia, are interrelated. Polyphagia can be the main symptom of diabetes along with two others. There are 3 p’s in the diabetes symptoms in which one ‘p’ stands for polyuria which is the state of increased urination. The third ‘p’ stands for polydipsia which indicates the state of having to drink more often.

How Does Diabetes Make You Feel Hungry?

Polyphagia is the term to indicate an excess in hunger or appetite. Polyphagia is not a disease rather it is the result of an underlying medical condition. A person with diabetes may not produce enough insulin which is essential for the functioning of your pancreas or your body might not make proper use of it.

Why Do You Feel Hungry Due To Diabetes?

When you eat, the food that enters your body is transformed into glucose. Insulin is a hormone that takes the glucose from your bloodstream and puts it into your cells. Your body is supposed to use this glucose for all other normal functioning of the body. The body may feel less energetic and may tend to eat more. This is what happens in a diabetic patient.

🟡 Causes Of Polyphagia

  • Diabetes mellitus

A common cause of polyphagia is diabetes. Almost all people with diabetes have the issue of excessive hunger. 

  • Premenstrual syndrome

Women may experience hormonal changes during each of their monthly menstrual periods. It can be the time to feel extreme hunger related to the obvious change in hormones like estrogen and progesterone. There will be increased cravings for tasty food.

  • Hyperglycemia

It is the state of having too much blood sugar in your blood vessels. When it becomes not possible for the insulin in your body to maintain the level of blood sugar, your body might send a signal to your brain asking you to eat more food frequently in excess amounts as a result of the energy drain.   

  • Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia can cause polyphagia. It is the condition of low blood sugar in the body. The body will be needing more energy as the sugar content is low and it will have a tendency to eat more food.

  • Stress and anxiety

Stress can make you feel hungrier. Stress in your body produces a hormone called cortisol which can make you crave more food. You may also tend to eat more while you’re on an emotional rollercoaster by yourself.  

  • Reduced sleep

Lack of sleep can result in uncontrolled blood sugar levels which in turn increases the chances of having polyphagia. 

🟡 Other Symptoms Of Diabetes

The symptoms can be quite common in all types of diabetes, including;   

  • Increased thirst
  • Loss in weight
  • Urinating a lot
  • Numbness or tingling in hands or feet
  • Decreased eye vision
  • Feeling tired most of the time

Conclusion 

Polyphagia, also known as hyperphagia is common among diabetes patients. It is when you are not able to get satisfaction even after eating a lot of food than the usual intake. As polyphagia is not a disease in itself, it can be treated by identifying the underlying medical condition that has caused it. Proper medication will help.

Following a healthy lifestyle is the most significant thing to consider to avoid these kinds of issues related to health. In some cases, some of the medications can also cause polyphagia. If you are concerned with what type of disease you may have related to polyphagia, it is suggested to consult a doctor and find out what is the real cause behind the condition.

They can help you with proper examination of the situation here and may suggest suitable changes to make to your daily life and treat the condition effectively. 

About Tim Mathew

Tim Mathew is an Endocrinologist specialized in general endocrinology, diabetes, and lipid metabolism. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in a science-related discipline and completed a medical school program in New York. Once Tim Mathew quoted that Endocrinology is both a challenging and rewarding medical specialty, so he wants to specialize in it. To know more about Tim Mathew kindly go through our about page.

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