Diabetes and infection

Diabetes can slow down your body's ability to fight infection. High blood glucose leads to high levels of sugar in your body's tissues. When this happens, bacteria grow and infections can develop more quickly in people with diabetes. Common sites of infection are your bladder, kidneys, vagina, gums, feet, and skin. Early treatment of infections can prevent more serious complications.

Warning Signs of Infection With Diabetes

While most infections in people with diabetes can be successfully treated, you must be able to recognize the symptoms of an infection in order to get proper and effective treatment. Notify your health care provider immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Fever over 101 degrees F (38.3 degrees C)
• Sweating or chills
• Skin rash
• Pain, tenderness, redness, or swelling
• Wound or cut that won't heal
• Red, warm, or draining sore
• Sore throat, scratchy throat, or pain when swallowing
• Sinus drainage, nasal congestion, headaches, or tenderness along upper cheekbones
• Persistent, dry, or moist cough that lasts more than two days
• White patches in your mouth or on your tongue
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Flu-like symptoms (chills, aches, headache, or fatigue) or generally feeling "lousy"
• Vaginal itching
• Trouble urinating: pain or burning, constant urge, or frequent urination
• Bloody, cloudy, or foul-smelling urine

Reviewed by Certified Diabetes Educators in the Department of Patient Education and Health Information and by physicians in the Department of Endocrinology at The Cleveland Clinic.