More than 38 million Americans have diabetes, a group of chronic diseases that affect the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar. Type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes all share a common symptom: regular changes in appetite.
Going from extreme hunger to having no appetite at all can feel like riding a rollercoaster, but there are steps you can take to prevent these swings.
At Plainsboro Princeton Medical Associates in Plainsboro Township and Monroe, New Jersey, experienced internal medicine physician Aruna Chakala, MD, specializes in the treatment of diabetes. Keep reading to learn why blood sugar affects appetite, why some people experience reduced appetite or intense hunger, and tips for keeping your appetite in check.
Blood sugar, or glucose, plays a crucial role in various bodily functions. A hormone called insulin helps move it from your bloodstream into your cells, providing energy so they can perform critical tasks. In contrast, another hormone, called ghrelin, stimulates appetite and suppresses insulin secretion.
If your blood sugar is too high or too low (a common side effect of diabetes), it can disrupt insulin and ghrelin levels, affecting your body’s natural hunger cues. This issue can present itself in one of two ways: a feeling of intense, insatiable hunger or a lack of appetite.
Even though there’s no cure for diabetes, keeping your blood sugar within the optimal range can reduce these fluctuations and help you better manage your appetite.
Type 1 diabetes, sometimes called juvenile diabetes, is the most common cause of insatiable hunger. This type makes your immune system attack the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas, causing glucose to build up in your bloodstream.
When glucose remains in your blood rather than getting transferred to your cells, your body signals that something is wrong, often in the form of extreme hunger. This situation happens because even if you’re eating, your cells aren’t getting enough fuel, so your hormones encourage you to consume more food. That’s why many people with untreated type 1 diabetes report feeling hungry, even after meals and snacks.
At the opposite end of the spectrum are people with diabetes who experience little or no appetite. Similar to extreme hunger, this symptom is more common in people with type 1 diabetes because the condition can damage the nerves that control digestion, affecting the stomach’s ability to process food. In medical terms, this is diabetic gastroparesis.
That said, people with type 2 and gestational diabetes can lose their appetite, too. Loss of appetite can have several causes. For example, certain diabetes medications suppress cravings, making meals and snacks an afterthought. Depression, which affects nearly 30% of people with diabetes, can lower appetite as well.
The good news is that even if you’re experiencing fluctuations, small lifestyle changes can help reduce their severity. Try these tips from Dr. Chakala:
These tweaks can prevent common ups and downs that make you feel your best.
Whether you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes or are concerned you might be at risk, you can manage appetite fluctuations. Take the first step toward managing your appetite and blood sugar. Request an appointment online or call our office at 609-799-5000 today.
