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What Causes Recurrent Infections When Diagnosed With Diabetes?
Question: i am a 45 year old woman who has suffered from chronic sinusitis for the past 12 years. i have had 5 surgeries already and possibly a 6th is coming up. i get repeated infections which also trigger my asthma. I just had a recent culture done and it says i have a heavy dose of e coli bacteria growth. i am also prone to bacterial vaginosis. Also i may add my last 3 eye appointments where they look in the back of the eye, they ask me if i am diabetic. i never bothered to follow up because i am extremely active, healthy weight height and i really don't have time to be sick. I do get hypoglycemic from time to time. Are all these things related?
Brief Answer:
Yes, it can be due to diabetes too that infections get worse and recurrent!
Detailed Answer:
Warm Welcome. I appreciate your trust in HCM and assure you are on best portal on the globe for expert online medical services.
I have thoroughly reviewed health query you raised, and well realize all of those concerns. Being your physician, I will take care all of them today and will extend my expertise to solve the problems.
Yes, diabetes mellitus is one of the major reasons for infections getting worst and recurrent. You have got surgeries and it seems your sinus mucosa is infectious again. Other causes may be deflected nasal septum, nasal polyps etc. Endonasal Sinusectomy may be an option to resolve the issue of recurrent sinus infections. You may discuss it with your treating doctor.
Having other area of foci of infections like bacterial vaginosis make it suspicious for low blood cell counts especially the white blood cells.
Low immunity (immunocompromised state) is also a cause in many such patients and HIV Screening is mandatory alongwith Diabetes screening. Both of them cause a lowered immunity and frequency and easy infections.
If you will remain healthy you will have much more time to enjoy the life with no sickness. So, please spare some time for follow up with these issues and this time when you go for the follow up bloodwork, ask them the aforementioned screenings and blood counts. Treatment goes accordingly.
Hope I addressed all the concerns you have. Let me know if you have further questions. I will be more than happy to clear any doubts. For any disease you have, a timely follow-up is necessary regarding the treatment efficacy and to see if there is a need to change treatment options. So keep a follow up to see how you doing (Always write down my name in start of your questions at this forum & I will be with you in no time).
Regards!
DR. HANIF
USA
Yes, it can be due to diabetes too that infections get worse and recurrent!
Detailed Answer:
Warm Welcome. I appreciate your trust in HCM and assure you are on best portal on the globe for expert online medical services.
I have thoroughly reviewed health query you raised, and well realize all of those concerns. Being your physician, I will take care all of them today and will extend my expertise to solve the problems.
Yes, diabetes mellitus is one of the major reasons for infections getting worst and recurrent. You have got surgeries and it seems your sinus mucosa is infectious again. Other causes may be deflected nasal septum, nasal polyps etc. Endonasal Sinusectomy may be an option to resolve the issue of recurrent sinus infections. You may discuss it with your treating doctor.
Having other area of foci of infections like bacterial vaginosis make it suspicious for low blood cell counts especially the white blood cells.
Low immunity (immunocompromised state) is also a cause in many such patients and HIV Screening is mandatory alongwith Diabetes screening. Both of them cause a lowered immunity and frequency and easy infections.
If you will remain healthy you will have much more time to enjoy the life with no sickness. So, please spare some time for follow up with these issues and this time when you go for the follow up bloodwork, ask them the aforementioned screenings and blood counts. Treatment goes accordingly.
Hope I addressed all the concerns you have. Let me know if you have further questions. I will be more than happy to clear any doubts. For any disease you have, a timely follow-up is necessary regarding the treatment efficacy and to see if there is a need to change treatment options. So keep a follow up to see how you doing (Always write down my name in start of your questions at this forum & I will be with you in no time).
Regards!
DR. HANIF
USA
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Dr. XXXXXXX Hanif
Thank you so much for addressing my concerns. Yes you are right i should follow up to get to the root of the problem. i have been on antibiotics and steroids 8 times over the past year and i know they just mask the issue. I do have the nasal polyps and deviated septum. I have never been tested for diabetes but several times i have been asked to. I am in really great shape so i thought that wasn't possible. One other thing they asked me to check and i did not is my thyroid, i forgot to mention that earlier. Could that be a reason my immune system is always compromised? my last blood work over a year ago i had the low platelet cell count and vitamin D deficient but i didn't check anything else. I am scheduled for blood work and CT 2/11 so i can certainly ask for full blood counts. I am too young and active to be this tired and worn out all the time.
Thank you so much for addressing my concerns. Yes you are right i should follow up to get to the root of the problem. i have been on antibiotics and steroids 8 times over the past year and i know they just mask the issue. I do have the nasal polyps and deviated septum. I have never been tested for diabetes but several times i have been asked to. I am in really great shape so i thought that wasn't possible. One other thing they asked me to check and i did not is my thyroid, i forgot to mention that earlier. Could that be a reason my immune system is always compromised? my last blood work over a year ago i had the low platelet cell count and vitamin D deficient but i didn't check anything else. I am scheduled for blood work and CT 2/11 so i can certainly ask for full blood counts. I am too young and active to be this tired and worn out all the time.
Brief Answer:
All baseline tests and screening are mandatory in your case !!!
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back with a follow up. I appreciate your trust in HCM.
I am always happy to address all the concerns you have. You may ask me anytime for any health issues. I am glad that you picked my point up that it is necessary for You to get tested. Being in good shape never promises that a person may be disease free. Central obesity is one of the risk factors for diabetes. It doesn't ever mean that a lean person will never get diabetes. So, I appreciate you will go for the screening. Prays for the best of times ahead for you.
Ask your Otorhinolaryngologist to go for correction of the nasal septal defect and to remove the polyps. These are the culprits causing recurrent issues as you face.
Thyroid may be associated with some issues of immunity as there is a disease named Hashimoto's thyroiditis in which there is a problem with body's immune system. They ask for thyroid as this is sometimes taken in the baseline Labs to get a baseline result on file. It also rules out any abnormalities if present in thyroid being the cause of issues. Other thyroid disorders also may cause you to feel tired and worn out all the time, lacking energy and feeling general malaise.
You should take a look for vit. D and B12 too in lab testing as they are also vital ones in maintaining bodily functions. As you had low vit D, it is better to get tested and if low, follow the instructions of your treating Physician. You may also upload the Lab results here at my profile to have an expert opinion on them. I am always here to help you.
Hope I addressed all the concerns you have. Let me know if you have further questions. I will be more than happy to clear any doubts. Please give your 'rating' (if agreed, Five Stars) to help me assist patients in a better way; and, please don't forget to click on 'Close The Discussion'.
For any disease you have, a timely follow-up is necessary regarding the treatment efficacy and to see if there is a need to change treatment options. So keep a follow up to see how you doing (Always write down my name in start of your questions at this forum & I will be with you in no time).
Regards!
DR. HANIF
USA
All baseline tests and screening are mandatory in your case !!!
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back with a follow up. I appreciate your trust in HCM.
I am always happy to address all the concerns you have. You may ask me anytime for any health issues. I am glad that you picked my point up that it is necessary for You to get tested. Being in good shape never promises that a person may be disease free. Central obesity is one of the risk factors for diabetes. It doesn't ever mean that a lean person will never get diabetes. So, I appreciate you will go for the screening. Prays for the best of times ahead for you.
Ask your Otorhinolaryngologist to go for correction of the nasal septal defect and to remove the polyps. These are the culprits causing recurrent issues as you face.
Thyroid may be associated with some issues of immunity as there is a disease named Hashimoto's thyroiditis in which there is a problem with body's immune system. They ask for thyroid as this is sometimes taken in the baseline Labs to get a baseline result on file. It also rules out any abnormalities if present in thyroid being the cause of issues. Other thyroid disorders also may cause you to feel tired and worn out all the time, lacking energy and feeling general malaise.
You should take a look for vit. D and B12 too in lab testing as they are also vital ones in maintaining bodily functions. As you had low vit D, it is better to get tested and if low, follow the instructions of your treating Physician. You may also upload the Lab results here at my profile to have an expert opinion on them. I am always here to help you.
Hope I addressed all the concerns you have. Let me know if you have further questions. I will be more than happy to clear any doubts. Please give your 'rating' (if agreed, Five Stars) to help me assist patients in a better way; and, please don't forget to click on 'Close The Discussion'.
For any disease you have, a timely follow-up is necessary regarding the treatment efficacy and to see if there is a need to change treatment options. So keep a follow up to see how you doing (Always write down my name in start of your questions at this forum & I will be with you in no time).
Regards!
DR. HANIF
USA
Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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