Do you have itchy genitals? Hidden diabetes symptoms explained – and when to see a doctor

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Diabetes is a common condition that affects more than four million people in the UK, and 90 percent of all cases are caused by type 2 diabetes. You could be at risk of high blood sugar if you start to lose weight without trying to, it’s been claimed.

Type 2 diabetes could be caused by the body not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the body not reacting to insulin.

Without enough of the hormone, the body struggles to convert sugar in the blood into useable energy.

It’s crucial that if you think you may have diabetes, you speak to a doctor as soon as possible.

One of the key warning signs of high blood sugar is unexplained genital itching.

Persistent itchiness around the groin is one of the key symptoms of diabetes, warned medical website Diabetes.co.uk.

If you have high blood sugar, it provides the ideal environment for yeast to grow.

This can lead to a yeast infection in both women and men, which causes the itchiness.

You may find that your genitals develop a burning pain, and they may become unusually red or sore.

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“Genital itching in either sex is an irritating problem that can simply be caused by allergies and skin irritations, or by more serious disorders and diseases such as diabetes,” it said.

“In cases where genital itching is caused by irritation or allergy, avoiding exposure to the irritant or allergen may be all that is needed for the itching to resolve.

“In diabetes, blood glucose levels can go abnormally high, which can therefore provide ideal conditions for naturally present yeast to grow and also diminishes the body’s ability to fight infection.

“Diabetes can also cause a higher glucose content in the urine – another extremely suitable place for yeast to thrive.”

But having itchy genitals could be caused by a number of conditions, and doesn’t necessarily mean that you have diabetes.

Allergic reactions, bacterial infections, eczema, or even the menopause can trigger itchiness.

It’s crucial that you speak to a doctor if your itchiness won’t go away.

Left untreated, it could lead to further medical complications, warned the medical website.

Meanwhile, other common diabetes symptoms include having cuts or wounds that take longer to heal, having an unquenchable thirst, and passing more urine than normal.

But many people may have diabetes without even knowing it, because the signs and symptoms don’t necessarily make you feel unwell.

You should speak to a doctor if you’re worried about the warning signs or symptoms of diabetes, or if you think you may be at risk.

Diagnosing the condition early is very important, because patients are more at risk of some deadly complications, including heart disease and strokes.

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