Q: My immune system isn’t affected by diabetes, right?
Marla Ahlgrimm: Actually, anytime you have a chronic illness, your immune system may be compromised. In non-diabetic adults, ingesting a few pathogens may only cause a small stomach upset. However, people with diabetes can experience serious side-effects when ingesting bacteria, viruses, or other unintentional microorganisms. This can lead to a serious and systemic infection that can put your life at risk.
Q: How does diabetes affect the gastrointestinal tract?
Marla Ahlgrimm: A normal gastrointestinal tract – the lining of the stomach – allows the body to digest food and drink. Diabetes can cause significant damage to the cells of the stomach, and stomach acid can trigger further tissue degradation. This can leave your insides with tiny fissures that can hold on to food, which can then grow bacteria and lead to an infection.
Q: Don’t the kidneys flush out bacteria?
Marla Ahlgrimm: In a healthy person, yes. However, if you have a severe case of diabetes, you may also have co-occurring kidney dysfunction. This means that your body will not be as able to remove waste and toxins.
Q: How can I be certain that the food I eat is not going to hurt me?
Marla Ahlgrimm: Your best bet is to follow food safety guidelines for the item you are going to consume. This is mostly common sense practices, which includes cooking food to its recommended internal temperature and eliminating the possibility for cross-contamination by using a separate clean and sanitized surface for meat and produce.
