Reader's Digest

July• 2018 | 19

HEALTH

stones for others. Holmes-Walker says
that it presents in a ‘stocking – glove’
pattern. “It happens irst where your
socksgoonanditmayoccurinyour
ingertipsmuchlater”shesays.

THETIPOFYOURPENISISRED
AND SWOLLENAmong the many
warning signs of type 2 diabetes are
erectiledysfunctionandacondition
called balanitis. “his is
most commonly due to
an excess of candida a
normal resident on the
skin which increases with
high blood glucose levels”
says Holmes-Walker. If
youexperienceswelling
oftheforeskinandtipof
thepenisanypainordischargesee
your doctor. hey will instruct you on
thebestwaytokeeptheareaclean
andmayrecommendananti-fungal
or antibiotic cream depending on the
source of the problem.

YOUR MOOD IS LOWOf all the
problems triggered by diabetes mood
disorders are notorious. An Australian
studyfoundoneinfourpeoplewith
type2diabetesexperiencedepression
andoneinsixexperienceanxiety.
Blood glucose balance is important
formaintainingastablemood.Ina
2016 US study diabetes was
associated with increased odds of

depression in older men. he longer

thepersonhadbeendiagnosedwith

diabetes the more likely they were to

sufer from depression.

YOU’RE SEEING ‘FLOATERS’

Although diabetes can damage eyes

it’susuallynotuntildiabetesismore

advanced that you start experiencing

symptoms.Overtimehighblood

glucose damages blood

vessels in the retina

causingthemtobleed

and leading to diabetic

retinopathy. You may

notice black loating

spots dotting your ield

of vision and you may

also have blurred vision.

It’s important to have a dilated eye

exam as diabetes is a leading cause of

preventable blindess.

YOUR GUMS ARE BLEEDING

Holmes-Walkersayspeoplewith

diabetes are three times more likely

to develop periodontitis – an

infection that damages gums and can

lead to tooth loss – than those without

diabetes.Redswollenandbleeding

gumsarecommonsignsofthe

condition. It’s important to see a

dentist to get this under control since

the infection also works the other way

–gumproblemscanincreaseblood

glucose and lead to diabetes.

Among the

problems

triggered by

diabetes mood

disorders are

notorious