Are you prone to infections if you have diabetes? (Diabetes & Infections) Be aware of these signs!

If you have diabetes, you may have experienced these things at times. Even a small wound takes longer to heal than usual, you get frequent urinary tract infections, or you get small blisters and rashes on your skin... Why are people with diabetes more prone to these types of infections? This is something we really need to be concerned about. Let's talk about it simply today.

Why does the risk of infection increase with diabetes?

There are several main reasons for this. Let's see what they are.

Simply put, when your blood sugar level is high for a long time, it's like a party for the germs in our body, especially bacteria and fungi. They get the sugar they need to grow and multiply. So they start to multiply very happily.

Another important thing is our body's defense system, the immune system. When blood sugar levels increase, the function of the white blood cells that fight germs that enter our body weakens. It's like when the soldiers in the army that defends our country get sick and their fighting ability decreases. So when an infection comes, the body's ability to fight it and control it decreases.

Also, sometimes diabetes can cause poor blood circulation in the body. Especially when blood flow is reduced to distant organs like the legs, if a wound occurs there, it also receives less nutrition and oxygen needed to heal.

What are the most common places where infections can occur?

Although a person with diabetes can develop an infection anywhere in the body, there are a few areas that are particularly at risk.

• Skin: Even a small scratch or cut can easily become infected. Sometimes, skin blisters, boils, and various fungal infections can occur.
• Feet: This is the most dangerous area and one that we need to be careful about. Diabetic Neuropathy can cause loss of sensation in the feet. So you may not notice a small stone getting stuck in your shoe or getting injured. There is a high chance that germs will enter through these small wounds and develop into non-healing wounds (Diabetic Foot Ulcers).
• Bladder and Kidneys: When blood sugar levels increase, the amount of sugar in the urine also increases. This sugary environment is conducive to the growth of bacteria in the urinary tract. This can lead to frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs).
• Gums: Gum recession and dental infections are common with diabetes.
• Women's vagina: There is an increased risk of fungal infections such as yeast infections.

Be very careful about these symptoms!

Early detection of an infection is the most important thing. If you have one or more of the symptoms below, don't ignore it. Tell your doctor as soon as possible.

What to do if you notice a symptom?

This is the most important part. If you have one or more of the symptoms mentioned above, don't just stay home and think, "It's okay, this will go away on its own." Even a minor infection can quickly become serious for someone with diabetes.

The best and only thing you can do is to see your family doctor (physician) as soon as possible and inform him/her about this. He/she can examine you, do blood tests if necessary, find the cause of the infection, and give you the right treatment.

Remember, if treatment is started early, most infections can be completely cured with simple antibiotics. But if left untreated, the infection can spread throughout the body and require hospitalization, perhaps even admission to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU). So don't take this for granted. Early detection and prompt treatment are what will protect you.