In the last popular science, we learned that diabetic foot is one of the complications of diabetes. Many patients are amputated or died resulted from complications of diabetes. Unfortunately, the incidence of diabetes is particularly high in both Solomon Islands and China. It is still a hard task to prevent and treat diabetes in the world as well. Therefore, doctors from China medical team and Solomon Islands will join forces to share experiences and work together for the treatment of diabetes. Today, we are talking about diabetes infections and why people with diabetes are more prone to infections.
Due to long-term disorders of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism, diabetes can cause abnormalities in the function of the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, blood vessels and other tissues and organs, and lead to a variety of complications. One of the most common complications is infection. Infections are also one of the main causes of death in people with diabetes.
Why are people with diabetes more prone to infections?
Diabetes can slow down your body’s ability to fight infection. The high sugar levels in your blood and tissues allow bacteria to grow and help infections develop more quickly. High blood sugars slow down the healing process and make infections more resistant to treatment. Diabetic patients are generally suffering from compromised immunity and hence are more prone to infections than other people. People who have had diabetes for a long time may have peripheral nerve damage and reduced blood flow to their extremities, which increases the chance of infection. The high sugar levels in blood and tissues allow bacteria to grow and allow infections to develop more quickly. On the other side, diabetes is prone to neuropathy, which makes diabetics insensitive to external stimuli and difficult to detect damage at an early stage. The bad circle is running like this: Firstly, when a diabetic is exposed to bacteria or fungi, the immune system response to them is weakened. Secondly, high blood sugar is also conducive to bacterial reproduction, making it easier for infections to occur. Thirdly, infections can cause a disorder of blood sugar levels resulting in diabetes.
In short, diabetes and infections are a vicious circle that can be extremely harmful to the body. What infections are common in people with diabetes and how can we prevent them? In the next issue, I will talk to you more about this health topic. See you in the next issue.
Source: CHINA MEDICAL TEAM NRH
（Translated by HUANG BAILIN, International Office, Guizhou Medical University）
