Mildly high blood sugar and fungal infections: Can it increase your risk?

The article explores the potential link between mildly elevated blood sugar and increased susceptibility to fungal infections, despite not meeting the diagnostic threshold for diabetes. Dr Palleti Siva Karthik Reddy, a consultant physician, explains that while a mild elevation in blood sugar does not directly cause fungal infections, it can be an early warning sign, especially in cases of recurrent infections.

This is because dysglycaemia can impair immune cells, making the body less effective at containing infections and favoring the growth of organisms like Candida. The article highlights candidiasis, particularly recurrent genital or oral candidiasis, as well as fungal infections affecting the skin, feet, and nails, as the fungal infections most commonly associated with elevated blood sugar.

It also suggests that recurrent fungal infections that do not respond well to treatment or take longer than usual to resolve should prompt an assessment of underlying risk factors, including blood glucose levels. The article concludes with a quiz to help readers understand when recurrent fungal infections might be a reason to discuss blood sugar testing with a doctor.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.