What makes diabetes worse

This is common in type 1 diabetes, and it can also occur with type 2 when blood sugar levels are very high. Dehydration can contribute to diabetic ketoacidosis DKA , a life-threatening emergency that can arise when the body cannot access glucose for energy, and it starts to break down fat instead.

Ketones are a by-product of this process. As they accumulate in the blood, they can make the blood too acidic. People with diabetes who experience symptoms of DKA need immediate medical attention. DKA can be fatal, and it needs emergency hospital treatment.

A person with diabetes may have high blood glucose levels, but their cells cannot access this glucose to use it as energy. Insulin is necessary for processing glucose effectively. Even if a person has high blood sugar levels, their body may lack energy. This can lead to polyphagia , in which the body triggers hunger signs as it tries to gain access to fuel. Even when a person eats, the hunger may persist, as the body continues to ask for fuel.

Although there is a link between obesity and type 2 diabetes, people who have difficulty managing their diabetes may not gain weight, even when they overeat.

If a person has a big appetite but does not gain weight, this suggests their body is not getting all the energy it needs from food. Whether a person with diabetes loses weight or not depends on how well the body is using glucose, and how much that person is eating.

When the body cannot access glucose from the blood, due to insulin problems, the body breaks down fat for energy. This creates a chemical called acetone that can have a fruity smell. Anyone who has this symptom should seek medical help at once. Learn more here about what causes acetone breath and when to see a doctor.

Kidney disease produces few or no symptoms in its early form. When symptoms appear, there may already be damage. This is one reason why it is important to know as soon as possible if diabetes is present and to manage blood sugar levels. How does diabetes affect the kidneys? Click here to learn more. People with diabetes often have cardiovascular symptoms, such as high blood pressure. They may also have high cholesterol levels and obesity, which are risk factors for heart disease.

Of all the complications of diabetes, cardiovascular disease is the one that is most likely to be fatal, according to research. Poor circulation can also contribute to slow wound healing and problems in the extremities, such as the feet.

High blood pressure, chest pain, or abnormal heart rhythms are important warning signs. Whether they are due to diabetes or another condition, people should not ignore them.

How does diabetes increase the risk of stroke? Find out more here. Long-term high blood sugar levels can damage nerves throughout the body, particularly those that affect sensation in the hands or feet. If a person has numbness or tingling, they may have nerve damage, or diabetic neuropathy. Some people with diabetes experience nerve pain, which can feel like electrical sensations or burning.

Nerve pain can happen anywhere, but it is especially common in the feet and hands. A person may wonder what foods to avoid with diabetes. Different foods provide each of the main macronutrients that give us energy: carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. There are more and less healthy types of each of these foods. Below, we explore which foods a person who has, or has a risk of, diabetes may want to limit or avoid.

We also offer some suggestions for crafting a healthy diabetes diet plan. Carbohydrates are an important source of energy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC recommend that people with diabetes get about half of their daily calories from carbohydrates. Having the same amount of carbohydrates in each meal can help keep blood sugar levels stable. There are three main types of carbohydrates in food: starch, sugar, and fiber. Starches and sugars pose the biggest problems for people with diabetes because the body breaks these down into glucose.

Refined carbs, or refined starches, are broken down through processing before they reach our plates. As a result of this processing, the body quickly absorbs the carbs and converts them into glucose. This increases blood sugar, and it means that a person may feel hungry again soon after a meal. For people with diabetes or a risk of the condition, some examples of carb sources to limit include white rice and anything made with white flour only, such as:.

Monitoring the total carbohydrate intake per meal can help a person keep their glucose levels in the target range. Learn how to count carbohydrates for diabetes. Sugary foods mostly contain sugar and low-quality carbohydrates. They often have little or no nutritional value and can cause sharp spikes in blood glucose.

Sugar can also contribute to weight gain and the risk of heart disease and stroke. Foods that are often high in sugar include baked goods, such as doughnuts, croissants, cakes, and cookies, as well as pizza dough. Some other sources of sugar include:. Many premade items in grocery stores contain added sugar, and this may not be obvious on their ingredients labels. Nutrition labels may refer to added sugar as fruit juice concentrate, molasses, honey, syrup, fructose, or dextrose, for example.

For this reason, it is a good idea to avoid packaged or processed foods with unfamiliar ingredients and to select items that are as whole and unprocessed as possible. People with diabetes should take care when consuming dried fruit and premade juices or fruit salad, as these often contain added sugar. Artificial sweeteners are low in calories, but research shows that they still have a negative effect on blood sugar by increasing insulin resistance.

More studies are needed to determine the extent of this effect. People with diabetes should focus on eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which contain essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. The body does not absorb all the carbs from whole grains.

And those that it does absorb enter the bloodstream more slowly than processed carbs. For this reason, carbs from whole grains are less likely to cause blood sugar levels to spike. They lead to the person feeling fuller for longer. Whole grains contain fiber. Although fiber is technically a carbohydrate, it does not break down into glucose in the body and does not add calories. Fiber is a healthy carb. The — Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend planning healthy meals by visualizing what takes up space on the plate.

Whole grains, for example, should take up half of the plate. They also recommend that, from 2 years of age, people get at least 14 grams g of fiber per every 1, calories.

People over the age of 51 need at least 28 g of fiber per 1, calories. A study looked at the development of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in people who consumed more than Fruits contain high-quality carbohydrates and fiber, as do nuts and legumes, such as beans, peas, and lentils. These foods may help slow the absorption of glucose. Do you know all of these blood sugar triggers? To receive updates about diabetes topics, enter your email address: Email Address. What's this.

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