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If you see ants congregating around your urine, it likely means you have too much sugar in your system. Is it a definite sign of diabetes? Not necessarily.

“Not everyone who has ants in their urine is automatically diabetic,” notes Westlake Medical Center endocrinologist Dr. Andres Ebison Jr. “But when this happens it means the sugar level in the blood is already too high that it’s already spilling into the urine.” It might or might not be a sign of diabetes, so it’s best to consult a doctor right away.

Weight loss and numbing limbs

There are other signs to look out for to know if you have diabetes.

“These symptoms include excessive weight loss or unexplainable weight drop, excessive thirst or hunger, and uncontrollable urination, especially at night,” Dr. Ebison says. “They also include extreme fatigue after doing very little and having infections in various parts of the body.” 

To those already living with diabetes, there are symptoms that might indicate they need to take care of themselves better or they need to seek medical attention. 

Prickly sensation on the foot, and numbness of the legs and hands can be complications of diabetes, or what’s called diabetic neuropathy where sugar gradually damages the body’s nerves. To reduce symptoms of neuropathy, patients need to take their medicine on schedule, keep their blood sugar at target level, and regularly meet their doctor.  

Affects the young and old

Diabetes is classified into three groups. Type 1 diabetes is the result of a damaged pancreas, the body’s main source of insulin. Type 2 diabetes, the most prevalent diabetes in the world, results when the pancreas is unable to sufficiently produce insulin or the body is unable to use insulin effectively. Gestational diabetes results when sugar levels increase among pregnant women. Once they give birth, the condition is expected to disappear. 

“Diabetes doesn’t choose age. It can affect anyone, even children or newborns,” Dr. Ebison notes. “Children often get Type 1 diabetes, so they have to take medication, particularly insulin, for their entire life.”

If you’re manifesting symptoms of diabetes or want to know more about the disease, you can visit Westlake Medical Center. To get expert medical advice regularly, follow Westlake Medical Center at https://www.facebook.com/WestlakeMedCenterPH/ and at https://www.tiktok.com/@wmctiktok 

Unsure of how to manage diabetes? Just keep in mind the “apat dapat” rule.

“First, modify your lifestyle. Second, exercise or engage in physical activity regularly. Third, take your medicine and insulin as prescribed. And fourth, meet your doctor and undergo laboratory tests if needed,” Westlake Medical Center endocrinologist Dr. Andres Ebison Jr. explains.

Among the four, lifestyle modification is the most important, according to Dr. Ebison. It includes having a proper diet, not smoking, and avoiding excessive alcohol drinking. He adds, “Patients also need to move often because they need to burn the food they eat.”

Pinggang Pinoy

While there is no perfect diet for people with diabetes, a good guide is the Department of Health’s “Pinggang Pinoy” which promotes proper food proportions. This prescribes that half portion of a 9-inch plate is filled with vegetables, 1/4 portion with meat serving, and the remaining 1/4 portion for rice or a carbohydrate source.

Diabetic patients can also have sugar-free foods or food products that won’t raise their blood sugar level. However, Dr. Ebison warns that just because something is branded as sugar-free doesn’t mean it’s okay to have it in excessive amounts.

“Consume them in moderation because some sugar-free products use sweeteners or sugar substitutes that can cause obesity and can lead to other health problems,” he says.

Meds are not enough

Medicines are important in treating diabetes, but they’re not enough. Regular monitoring of their blood sugar levels is also important. “Doctors use blood sugar levels as a basis for determining if a person has diabetes. Sugar levels also help us determine what kind of medicine to prescribe, or if we gave the patient the right medication dosage,” Dr. Ebison notes.

He added that a non-diabetic person should expect their fasting blood sugar to be less than 100 mg/dL while a diabetic patient who’s already taking medication should expect it to be 80 to 130 mg/dL. However, these targets depend on the age and health condition of a patient.

If you’re manifesting symptoms of diabetes or want to know more about the disease, you can visit Westlake Medical Center. To get expert medical advice regularly, follow Westlake Medical Center at https://www.facebook.com/WestlakeMedCenterPH/ and https://www.tiktok.com/@wmctiktok