Loss of appetite, why it is harmful when you suffer from diabetes

Following a healthy, balanced diet to keep blood sugar levels stable throughout the day is one of the key points of diabetes management.

But what happens if you're not hungry or lose your appetite? Is it a problem when you skip a meal? AgroWeb.org introduces you to the answers to the questions below.

The dangers of skipping meals

Diabetes occurs when your body uses insulin improperly or no longer produces it.

Insulin allows the body to use blood sugar (glucose) from carbohydrates for energy.

When insulin cannot do its job, sugar can accumulate in the bloodstream and create the right conditions for diabetes.

If you skip meals, you may develop hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).

Both conditions can be dangerous or even deadly.

Loss of appetite or skipping meals can lead to overeating later in the day.

This causes blood sugar to increase, but this habit can also cause you to gain excess weight.

This is why it is important to eat meals regularly throughout the day and not go more than four or five hours without eating.

Possible causes of lack of appetite

As a general rule, diabetes does not cause loss of appetite, but people with diabetes can lose their appetite for many reasons.

These may include:

Gastroparesis – This occurs when food stays in the stomach for a long time due to damaged nerves that help contract the muscles to move food through the digestive system.

Depression – Managing diabetes is quite stressful and in some people this can lead to depression, which can cause loss of appetite.

Medication side effects – Various medications for treating diabetes can also be responsible for loss of appetite.

You are sick – People with diabetes are more prone to colds or the flu, which can affect appetite.

Diabetic ketoacidosis – This potentially fatal condition occurs when blood sugar is high and insulin levels are low.

As a result, the body starts burning fat, which causes a buildup of acid in the body. If left untreated, it can lead to coma and death.

Poor diabetes control – If your blood sugar levels are consistently high, you may lose your appetite.

Certain types of cancer – Some types of cancer can cause loss of appetite.

If you have diabetes and are experiencing a loss of appetite, what you can do is consult your doctor to find a solution. /AgroWeb.org