Infections become very serious when you have diabetes. Diabetes affects how your immune system fights infections. This is because infections develop quickly in people who are diabetic. The high glucose levels in the body tissue leads to bacteria. Therefore, diabetics are prone to infections of the gums, feet, skin, kidneys, bladder, and vagina.

The symptoms of infection include a wound or cut that will not heal; skin rash; fever above 101 degrees; a sore that is red, warm to the touch, and draining; a sore throat; sweating or chills; painful areas; sinus drainage or nasal congestion; headaches; dry cough; white patches in the mouth; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; vaginal discharge, itching, or odor; painful urination, frequent urination, or foul-smelling urine.

If you have any sign of infection, it is important that you contact your doctor immediately. Diabetics have a hard time fighting infections, and it is better if treatment begins at the onset of the infection, instead of waiting for it to "fester."

For gum infections, which are indicated by white patches in the mouth or bleeding gums, visit your dentist. Make sure that your dentist is aware that you are diabetic, and let him know about all medications that you are taking. Also, after a visit to the dentist, make sure that your doctor is aware that there was an infection, and let him know what medications your dentist prescribed for you as well.

For infections of the feet, you can visit your medical doctor; however, he may prefer for you to see a podiatrist. Again, let the podiatrist know that you are diabetic, and inform your doctor of the podiatrist's findings and any prescriptions that you received.

As a diabetic, you can live a perfectly normal life. However, you do need to be more aware of what is going on with your body than you have in the past. Remember that prevention should be your main goal -- but if you do have signs of an infection, early treatment is the next best thing to prevention.

Milos Pesic is an expert in the field of Diabetes and has helped thousands of diabetes sufferers control their blood sugar. For more articles and resources on easy diabetes management, natural diabetes medication, diabetes symptoms and much more visit his site at: http://diabetes.need-to-know.net/