Diabetes FAQ » Diabetes Q&A » I am diabetic and I am always feeling hot, but then I am also 54 years old and it could be hot flashes due to menopause? Is feeling hot a symptom of diabetes?

I am diabetic and I am always feeling hot, but then I am also 54 years old and it could be hot flashes due to menopause? Is feeling hot a symptom of diabetes?

It would be difficult to say without having tests done. Your doctor would be able to tell simply by doing some blood tests and urine samples. That way he or she could rule out menopause and then he or she could concentrate on the issues of diabetes. In terms of diabetes, what your doctor would specifically be looking for are problems with the thyroid gland.

Even though the signs of feeling hot are not directly related to diabetes per se, it is common for people who have diabetes to also have a thyroid condition as well.

The Thyroid

The thyroid happens to be a small gland based at the back lower portion of the neck and it is responsible for the body’s metabolism. The thyroid is responsible for the chemical reactions, which occurs at the cell level needed for digestion. The other cells the thyroid hormones help regulate, are the cells required for the growth of hair and teeth. The thyroid produces hormones and among its functions it will regulate the body’s temperature.

Each of the glands in the body work together to keep the body functioning and the thyroid is no exception for it depends upon the pituitary gland to stimulate it into producing the thyroid hormone. This hormone is called TSH meaning thyroid stimulating hormone. The pituitary gland will only release this hormone if it senses that the thyroid gland has lower than normal levels of thyroid hormone and thus it will release the TSH in order for the thyroid gland to release the hormone into the body’s blood stream. You can consider the pituitary gland like a thermostat, which switches on or off when needed.

Thyroid Conditions

There are two conditions that can occur when the thyroid gland is not working properly.

Hypothyroidism is a condition, which occurs when there is not enough thyroid hormone being released into the body. The symptoms would include:

• Tiredness (fatigue).
• Hair loss.
• Weight gain.
• A general feeling of listlessness.
• Depression.
• Constipation.
• Memory loss.
• Losing the ability to remain sharp (mental dullness).
• Muscle and joint pain.
• Heavy Periods in women.
• High Cholesterol.
• Husky voice.
• Dry skin.
• Feeling cold all the time.

Feeling cold is opposite to what you are experiencing however there is also a condition called hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism occurs when there is too much thyroid hormone circulating in the bloodstream.

Hyperthyroidism

The common symptoms of Hyperthyroidism include:

• Weight loss.
• Diarrhea.
• The feeling of your heart pounding.
• Hair loss.
• Shaky hands.
• Feeling nervous and irritable.
• Restlessness.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Light or infrequent menstrual periods.
• Feeling hot when no one else does.

With either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, you don’t have to have all the symptoms, but you will have some of them. It is unlikely that you will only have the feeling of being hot all the time. However, many of the symptoms do overlap with other conditions, including your diabetes mellitus and menopause and other conditions not yet determined.

If you do have type 2 diabetes and there is evidence of hyperthyroidism, your doctor will prescribe medication to regulate the problem. Without treatment the blood glucose levels may remain too high and this in turn will interfere with the management of your diabetes. You may end up losing weight which if you are obese is not a bad thing, but you are losing weight for the wrong reasons. There is the possibility that too many ketones (the end result oft fat breakdown in the blood) will cause you to require more insulin or even more medications to once again lower your blood sugar levels. When the thyroid issue is cleared up the diabetes management will also improve. Again you need to go to your doctor and explain what you are feeling and list as many symptoms that you have in order for your doctor to find out exactly why you are feeling hot all the time.

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