Don’t be careless
Sometimes there is no hunger but the urge to eat something keeps coming. As a result, we often end up snacking on junk food without realizing it.
It is good to eat after hunger, but it is dangerous to overdo it. Similarly, it is not good to eat without hunger.
If not treated properly, it can lead to ‘diabetic ketoacidosis’, the final stage of diabetes which can be life-threatening.
Who gets hyperphagia?
Often, the problem of hyperphagia occurs in all types of diabetes including type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.
This is because people with diabetes have trouble producing insulin, a hormone that helps convert glucose (blood sugar) from food into energy.
Due to this, the body does not get the required energy. It makes one very hungry and urges to eat again and again.
Are there other causes of hyperphagia?
Diabetes is not the only cause of hyperphagia. Certain other health disorders and psychiatric conditions can also cause extreme hunger.
Hyperthyroidism,
Bulimia nervosa (Bulimia nervosa),
Insulinoma,
Frontotemporal dementia,
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS),
rheumatoid arthritis,
mental stress,
anxiety, depression,
What are the symptoms of diabetic hyperphagia?
Hyperphagia is more likely if a person experiences the following symptoms:
- overeating,
- No matter how much you eat, you feel hungry again.
- A feeling of intense hunger all the time,
- Gaining weight day by day
- frequent urination,
- Extreme tiredness that makes it impossible to do even small tasks,
- Excessive thirst,
- Frequent headaches and dizziness
- Tingling or burning sensation in hands and feet,
Sometimes digestive problems such as heartburn, diarrhea, and nausea may also occur.
How can diabetic hyperphagia be treated?
In general, the best way to treat hyperphagia is to identify its underlying cause and treat it accordingly. Doctors say that with such treatment, the condition will disappear as soon as possible.
But as far as diabetic hyperphagia is concerned, the proper treatment is to manage the diabetes itself. Depending on the type of diabetes, treatment should be given accordingly.
How to control diabetes?
People with type 1 diabetes do not produce insulin. So they have to take insulin injections to keep their blood sugar under control. It is important to regularly monitor blood sugar daily.
People with type 2 diabetes can’t use insulin even though their body produces it. Therefore, they can keep their blood sugar under control by taking oral diabetes medications.
