Reader's Digest

(avery) #1
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
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