6. Weight Loss
The loss of corporal weight is a clinical manifestation of numerous pathological processes, including Hyperglycemia. A loss of weight greater than 10 kilograms is generally associated with marked changes in physical appearance and can lead to marginal manifestations of malnutrition. Cachexia is defined as a weight decrease greater than 40% below normal with regards to sex, age, and height. Secondary weight loss may be accompanied by asthenia and fatigability, arterial hypotension, insomnia or drowsiness, depression, menstrual alterations in women, reduction of subcutaneous cellular tissue and muscular atrophy. The overall result of these manifestations is typically followed by hypoproteinemia, which is a reduction in blood protein levels, in addition to a dramatic depression of the immune apparatus.
In patients with Hyperglycemia, weight loss may be due in part to the increased urination described above. It can also occur mainly in insulin-dependent diabetes, due to caloric loss through glucosuria and insulin deficiency, which results in less synthesis and higher catabolism of fats and proteins. Interestingly, in patients with hyperglycemia weight loss is observed in spite of the presence of polyphagia.
