Is Coldness a Sign of Diabetes?

The rainy season like today can indeed make the air temperature cooler. We're accustomed to wearing thicker clothing or drinking warm beverages like tea or coffee.

However, we may still feel cold or even shiver even though the air temperature isn't actually that cool. Is this a sign of a health problem?

Frequent chills are associated with diabetes

Health experts describe diabetes as a disease that can cause blood sugar levels to remain consistently high. The problem is, this condition ultimately affects the nerves and kidneys, a condition medically known as diabetic nephropathy. One symptom of diabetic nephropathy is a constant feeling of coldness. Other symptoms include excessive itching, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, frequent nausea and vomiting, and disorientation or feeling cold.

Other illnesses that can cause signs of chills

Apart from diabetes, several other diseases can also cause symptoms of coldness in our bodies even though the air temperature is not that cold.

Here are some diseases that we should be aware of.

Anemia

Anemia is often thought of as a lack of blood. In reality, it's actually a lack of red blood cells. This is caused by the body's inability to produce enough red blood cells. These red blood cells play a crucial role in distributing oxygen throughout the body.

There are various types of anemia that can affect us, but generally, this type of anemia causes symptoms in the form of a cold sensation. Other signs and symptoms we may experience include fatigue or weakness, a pale appearance, and an irregular heartbeat.

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is a condition that affects the thyroid gland. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that plays a crucial role in regulating the body's metabolism. It is located at the base of the spine. If this gland becomes problematic, it can produce too much thyroid hormone or the body will have difficulty processing the excess, leading to hyperthyroidism.

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism can include feeling cold all the time, thinning hair, dry skin, fatigue, frequent constipation, uncontrolled weight gain, and menstrual irregularities in women.

Disorders of the blood vessels

If you frequently experience a cold sensation in your hands or feet, it's a good idea to suspect a possible blood vessel disorder that's impeding circulation to those parts of the body. Without adequate blood flow, your hands and feet will feel cold.

Symptoms of this blood vessel disorder are usually accompanied by fingers or toes that appear white or even bluish, frequent tingling, numbness, or even throbbing in the hands and feet, and skin that continues to sweat for no reason.

Some types of blood vessel disorders that can cause a variety of symptoms include problems with the blood clotting process, arteriosclerosis, a condition that causes narrowing of the blood vessels, and Raynaud's disease, which causes spasms in the narrowing of the blood vessels leading to the fingers or toes.

Anorexia

Anorexia is an eating disorder that can cause signs of coldness, a body weight that is much lower than normal, a very thin body, and menstrual disorders in women.

If we start to feel cold frequently without any reason, it is best to immediately check our health condition with a doctor to identify the cause and treat it properly.