Hyperphagia and diabetes
Are you experiencing persistent hunger which is not controlled by eating? If yes, you may have developed hyperphagia. Usually, it is a medical term for extreme uncontrollable hunger. In the majority of cases, it is a sign of diabetes. But it can be caused by other conditions as well such as atypical depression and hyperthyroidism. That’s why it is important when you note its symptoms, you must visit your healthcare provider for a diagnosis of the underlying condition.
Learn about the symptoms of hyperphagia and diabetes in this article.
What is hyperphagia?
Hyperphagia is a medical term that is also known as polyphagia. It happens when you feel extreme, uncontrollable hunger. While it is a common sign of diabetes, many other conditions also cause similar symptoms such as hyperthyroidism and atypical depression.
This feeling does not go away even when you eat something, except in the case of low blood sugar levels. If you eat in excess, it may or may not lead to weight gain depending on the underlying cause. But it is still possible that you gain weight.
Whenever you experience hyperphagia you must visit your healthcare provider to diagnose your condition to find out what causes you this condition.
Symptoms
Hyperphagia can vary from normal hunger, especially in people with diabetic hyperphagia. Symptoms include:
- Intense food cravings
- Overeating
- Fatigue
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent urination
- The feeling of hunger despite eating regularly and on time.
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Heartburn
These symptoms help you understand that your craving is not normal, experiencing some of these symptoms hints that you should visit your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
Diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosis of hyperphagia is difficult only from simple food cravings. However, the main symptom of hyperphagia is persistent food cravings that do not go away with food. If you have diabetic hyperphagia you may experience these symptoms of diabetes:
- Blurred vision
- Chronic fatigue
- Excessive urination and thirst
- Tingling or burning sensations in the hands or feet
- A wound that time to heal
- Unintentional weight loss
- Dry skin
Based on these symptoms and your medical history, your healthcare provider recommended some tests to rule out your diabetes:
- A1c blood test
- Fasting blood glucose test
- Glucose tolerance test
- Random blood sugar test (usually for type 1 diabetes)
If your diabetes is diagnosed, then the doctor starts your diabetes treatment accordingly. And if you don’t have diabetes then some other tests are recommended to rule out the cause of hyperphagia. The main goal of the treatment is to treat its underlying cause. In case you have diabetes, managing your diabetes can also manage your hyperphagia.
Usually, to treat diabetes it depends on the type of diabetes you have. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disorder, which causes the inability to produce insulin. It is usually treated with insulin shots and medications. You need to continue monitoring your blood sugar levels. Whereas type 2 diabetes is more common than type 1 diabetes, it can be managed with lifestyle changes and medications. In some people type 2 diabetes goes away with bariatric surgery.
If you need help with hyperphagia, visit our clinic at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212. Our doctors can check your symptoms and tests will be done in our hospital. So that, it becomes easy for you that you don’t have to go to other labs for testing. After the condition is diagnosed in your test, our doctors will create a treatment plan to make you better or to help you manage your condition easily. Call us on +1-347-384-5690 to know more.