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What Causes Hot Flashes In A Diabetic Patient?
Question: Hi I have been getting a lot of hot flashes during the day I would have to sit and relax and even when I am driving I get them .iI am a 35 year old men and diabetic, why is this ?
Brief Answer:
Hot flashes
Detailed Answer:
Hot flashes in men have been described in those with testosterone deficiency. When I see someone with complaints similar to yours in my practice, in addition to a thorough physical examination I tend to order the following blood tests:
CBC
CMP
TSH
Free T4
Total Testosterone
SHBG
HbA1c
It is not necessary to fast for these tests but they are to be done in the morning, preferably before 9 am.
If the person also has diabetes, I also order (even though these are not in direct connection with evaluation of the hot flashes) :
Lipids
Urine albumin to creatinine ratio
Furthermore, when the symptoms of hot flashes occur, it is advisable to check your fingerstick capillary blood glucose level using a glucose monitor. This is because sometimes a low blood glucose below 70 mg/dl can produce similar symptoms. This of course is possible only if the person is on medications for diabetes which are capable of causing low sugar reactions. it is notable that there are several diabetes medications that cannot cause low glucose reactions.
Finally if you feel these hot flashes are associated with sweating and 'heart racing' and fluctuating blood pressure, the I also check for a rare condition called Pheochromocytoma. The screening blood test for this is called "Plasma Free Metanephrines'
Hot flashes
Detailed Answer:
Hot flashes in men have been described in those with testosterone deficiency. When I see someone with complaints similar to yours in my practice, in addition to a thorough physical examination I tend to order the following blood tests:
CBC
CMP
TSH
Free T4
Total Testosterone
SHBG
HbA1c
It is not necessary to fast for these tests but they are to be done in the morning, preferably before 9 am.
If the person also has diabetes, I also order (even though these are not in direct connection with evaluation of the hot flashes) :
Lipids
Urine albumin to creatinine ratio
Furthermore, when the symptoms of hot flashes occur, it is advisable to check your fingerstick capillary blood glucose level using a glucose monitor. This is because sometimes a low blood glucose below 70 mg/dl can produce similar symptoms. This of course is possible only if the person is on medications for diabetes which are capable of causing low sugar reactions. it is notable that there are several diabetes medications that cannot cause low glucose reactions.
Finally if you feel these hot flashes are associated with sweating and 'heart racing' and fluctuating blood pressure, the I also check for a rare condition called Pheochromocytoma. The screening blood test for this is called "Plasma Free Metanephrines'
Note: For further follow-up, discuss your blood glucose reports with our diabetologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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