People with diabetes may have difficulty breathing due to a sudden rise or fall in blood sugar, affecting the respiratory system.
Follow Very Well Health, shortness of breath, and dizziness are two symptoms that can occur when blood sugar levels are abnormally high. This is also a warning sign of a serious complication that is ketoacidosis, which causes endocrine and metabolic disorders in the body.
Diabetic ketoacidosis occurs when the body makes too little insulin (a hormone obtained from the pancreas) or is resistant to insulin, failing to convert carbohydrates into glucose for energy. When the body breaks down fat, ketones are eliminated by the kidneys in the urine. In cases where ketones accumulate abnormally quickly, the body must try to use the lungs to eliminate excess ketones, making it difficult to breathe.
In addition to difficulty breathing, ketoacidosis can cause dizziness, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, and bad breath. In case of severe complications, you may lose consciousness and need to be hospitalized. Your doctor may administer insulin as an injection or through a vein. Patients are monitored until their ketone levels decrease and insulin levels stabilize. Diabetics also find it difficult to breathe due to the sudden rise and fall of blood sugar. Similar to ketoacidosis, the body lacks or too much glucose, lung function and breathing are affected.
Patients may appear additional symptoms such as abdominal pain, dry mouth, extreme thirst, tremors, weakness, anxiety… If not detected early, an emergency diabetic coma occurs. , dangerous. Depending on the condition of high or low blood sugar, the doctor will treat it appropriately.
Shortness of breath is a sign of diabetes complications. Image: Freepik
After completing the initial course of treatment, patients need to be re-examined to check and assess their health. Each person needs to take measures to prevent hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia such as monitoring blood sugar levels regularly, preparing emergency glucose tablets, bringing identification…
For people with diabetes, shortness of breath is also a warning sign of heart disease. Diabetics have a higher risk of heart attack or stroke than the general population. During treatment, blood glucose levels can rise, causing damage to the network of blood vessels and nerves around the heart.
Shortness of breath is one of the first signs of a heart attack, stroke, followed by sweating, nausea, dizziness, pain in the arms, jaw, chest, upper abdomen, back, slurred speech… For people with these symptoms, the doctor will measure blood pressure, tests, comprehensive health check to assess cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
People with diabetes are also at a higher risk of kidney failure leading to shortness of breath. This condition occurs because the kidneys do not work properly, and the fluid that accumulates in the body backs up into the heart and lungs. At this time, symptoms may be encountered such as swelling of the feet, hands, ankles, eyes, nausea, loss of concentration, fatigue.
Over time, the lungs of people with type 1 diabetes can reduce their ability to carry oxygen to the red blood cells that supply the body with oxygen. This condition can occur due to changes in blood vessels in the lungs, leading to low oxygen levels.
Diabetics who feel short of breath need to see a doctor for early treatment. Perform tests to help assess blood glucose levels, ketoacidosis, and kidney function.
Minh Thuy
(Follow Very Well Health)
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