How Can A Uti Be Prevented
Amanda recently contacted TheDiabetesCouncil asking how to prevent utis. There are quite a few simple things you can start doing today, that will ensure you dont end up with another dreaded infection tomorrow!
The very best prevention is to practice good hygiene techniques. Now remember, I am a Registered Nurse, so I am going to get technical here ladies:
- Wiping front to back is essential! Transfer of bacteria is definitely going to happen otherwise and will cause a urinary tract infection for sure!
- Go to the bathroom and empty your bladder immediately after sexual intercourse ladies.
- Every time you empty your bladder, try to make sure it is fully empty.
- Drink lots of water to keep your bladder flushed out current recommendation is 8 eight ounce glasses per day .
- Keep your diabetes under the best possible control!
I know these techniques seem simple at first glance, but if you are vigilant, they really will work. Practicing these preventive techniques will go a long way in helping you stay healthy and hopefully avoid a potentially life threatening urinary tract infection.
Why does diabetes increase the risk for getting a UTI?
Weaker immune system, poor blood circulation, high blood glucose levels, and diabetic neuropathy are some of the reasons why people with diabetes are at a higher risk
I am a woman, am I at a high risk of getting a UTI?
What are the signs and symptoms that I should watch for?
The most common signs and symptoms to look out for are:
Foamy Urine And Diabetes
Foamy urine and diabetes are interrelated. And this article explains to you how, with the help of some basic facts about diabetes and its complications.
Foamy urine and diabetes are interrelated. And this article explains to you how, with the help of some basic facts about diabetes and its complications.
If you have the habit of missing your natures call, meaning delaying the urge to urinate, then foamy urine may be something that is common to you. This is due to the reason, after holding on for a long time when you finally go to the washroom, your urine may hit the toilet pot with such a force, that the formation of bubbles in the urine must not come as a surprise to you. And if this is the only cause of you having bubbly urine then you need not worry. Again, foamy urine is normal if you do not have the habit of drinking plenty of water. Dehydration makes the urine more concentrated and darker. And so when it is expelled, it produces froth.
What Is Diabetes Insipidus
Diabetes insipidus is a rare condition that causes your body to make a lot of urine that is “insipid,” or colorless and odorless. Most people pee out 1 to 2 quarts a day. People with diabetes insipidus can pass between 3 and 20 quarts a day. It’s also called central DI, pituitary DI, hypothalamic DI, neurohypophyseal DI, or neurogenic DI.
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The Kidneys And Ureters
The kidneys and ureters are a rare cause of feline haematuria. Kidneys suffering from failure can bleed, especially when the cat also has high blood pressure. Cats can also suffer from kidney and ureter tumours. Compared to haematuria from the bladder or urethra, bleeding from the kidneys and ureters is rare.
Where Can I Get More Information
The National Kidney Foundation has free booklets that provide more information about diabetes and kidney disease. Call the national toll-free number 855.653.2273 and ask for free booklets. You can see these and other titles at www.kidney.org/store.
If you would like more information, please contact us.
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What Causes This Condition And Whos At Risk
Glycosuria is typically caused by an underlying condition that affects your blood sugar level, such as diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common cause of glycosuria.
If you have this condition, your bodys insulin doesnt work properly in one of two ways. In some cases, insulin cant transport blood sugar into your bodys cells effectively. This can cause blood sugar to be passed out in your urine instead.
In other cases, your body doesnt make enough insulin to balance your blood sugar levels. Any excess blood sugar is passed out through your urine.
Glycosuria can also happen if you develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy. This type of diabetes happens when hormones that come from your babys placenta prevent the insulin in your body from properly controlling your blood sugar. This can cause your blood sugar to become abnormally high. Gestational diabetes is preventable, though. Heres how.
Renal glycosuria is a much rarer form of glycosuria. This happens when your kidneys renal tubules the parts of the kidneys that act as filters in your urinary system dont filter blood sugar out of your urine properly. This condition is often caused by a mutation in a specific gene.
Unlike glycosuria that happens because of type 2 diabetes, renal glycosuria isnt necessarily caused by your overall health or lifestyle choices.
There arent any immediately obvious symptoms of glycosuria. In fact, many people experience glycosuria for years and never notice any symptoms.
How Is Diabetes Insipidus Diagnosed
Your doctor will do a physical exam. A checkup may not show any signs of central DI, except maybe an enlarged bladder or symptoms of dehydration.
Theyâll ask questions about your health history, including your familyâs health. You might get a series of tests that include:
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Bladder And Kidney Infection
Bladder and kidney infections are more common in women because of the short length of the urethra, which is the tube taking urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. The urine and vaginal secretions often contain increased amounts of glucose, particularly if the level of the glucose in the blood has been high. This provides an environment which germs can grow. It is possible for germs to be forced backwards up this tube during sexual intercourse, so to help prevent infection empty the bladder after sexual intercourse.
If the nerves to the bladder have been damaged by diabetes, the bladder may not empty completely leaving germs that may multiply.
What Causes Diabetic Ketoacidosis
The main cause of DKA is not enough insulin. A lack of insulin means sugar cant get into your cells. Your cells need sugar for energy. This lack of insulin causes your bodys glucose levels to rise. To get energy, your body starts to burn fat. This process causes ketones to build up. Ketones can poison the body.
High blood glucose levels can also cause you to urinate often. This leads to a lack of fluids in the body .
DKA can be caused by missing an insulin dose, eating poorly, or feeling stressed. An infection or other illness can also lead to DKA. If you have signs of infection , contact your doctor. You will want to make sure you are getting the right treatment. For some people, DKA may be the first sign they have diabetes.
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What Can Cause Blood In Urine
Blood in urine is a symptom that does not typically appear on its own, and is generally a sign of an underlying problem. It is important to understand that the cause of blood in urine is not always infection. There are multiple causes for this, some more serious than others. Possible causes of blood in urine besides infection are:
- Medications
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Blood-thinning medicines like aspirin and warfarin are useful in dissolving blood clots, but can also push microscopic traces of blood into a person’s urine. Prolonged usage of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs like ibuprofen can also cause blood to appear in someone’s urine.
- Internal Hemorrhaging
Trauma, injury, and overexertion during exercise may all cause internal injuries that break blood vessels. This can cause blood to leak into body cavities and discharge in a patient’s urine. A blow to the kidneys might also rupture cell walls and blood vessels, therefore causing bleeding during urination. Hemorrhaging may also occur when an aneurysm or balloon-like expansion of an abdominal artery ruptures.
- Stones in the Kidney or Ureter
- Prostate Problems
- Cancers of the Urinary Tract
What Effect Does Diabetes Have On The Kidneys
Over time, poorly controlled diabetes can cause damage to blood vessel clusters in your kidneys that filter waste from your blood. This can lead to kidney damage and cause high blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause further kidney damage by increasing the pressure in the delicate filtering system of the kidneys.
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What Increases My Chances Of Developing Diabetic Kidney Disease
Having diabetes for a longer time increases the chances that you will have kidney damage. If you have diabetes, you are more likely to develop kidney disease if your
- blood glucose is too high
- blood pressure is too high
African Americans, American Indians, and Hispanics/Latinos develop diabetes, kidney disease, and kidney failure at a higher rate than Caucasians.
You are also more likely to develop kidney disease if you have diabetes and
- smoke
- have heart disease
- have a family history of kidney failure
Yeast And Bladder Infections
Women with diabetes are more likely to have yeast infections, because yeast organisms can grow more easily when your blood glucose levels are higher. Yeast infections can be uncomfortable or painful and prevent you from enjoying activities, including having sex.
Although some yeast infections can be treated at home, talk with a health care professional first about your symptoms. Some symptoms of yeast infections are similar to other types of infections, including sexually transmitted diseases.
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How Can You Lower Your Blood Pressure
The best way to prevent HBP-caused kidney disease and control any symptoms such as blood in your urine is by lowering your blood pressure. Medicines can help with this, but lifestyle changes are equally important. These include:
- regular physical activity in your daily or weekly routine at least 150 minutes a week
- keeping your body at a healthy weight or starting a diet and exercise routine that will get you to a healthy weight
- no smoking its bad for your blood pressure and can damage blood vessels
If You Have Diabetes It Is Twice As Likely You Will Develop A Utiwhy
There are many factors that elevate the risk for UTIs for people with diabetes. Common sense would tell us that higher blood sugars increase the risk for all infections.
Well, believe it or not, the jury is still out on that theory for some odd reason. I could not find any recent research anywhere on this theory or for that matter on urinary tract infections in people with diabetes. My hope is more research will be considered since the complications associated with these infections can be life threatening.
According to a study by Nitzan et al Urinary tract infections in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: review of prevalence, diagnosis and management, UTIs are most common and severe with complicated outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes. The study presents the reasons people with diabetes are at a greater risk for urinary tract infections which I will outline here:
Likely Causes of Urinary Tract Infections in People with Diabetes:
- Poor metabolic control
- Use of catheters
- Hospitalizations
Poor metabolic control is not completely understood as a cause of utis yet, so this is a great opportunity for researchers. The extra sugar in the urine builds up, causing the growth of extra bacteria which leads to the infection in the bladder.
We have already discussed a few of these, but lets discuss the ones we havent.
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How Common Is Diabetic Kidney Disease
Although diabetic kidney disease is more common in people with type 1 diabetes, there are more people with type 2 diabetes and diabetic kidney disease. This is because type 2 diabetes is much more common than type 1 diabetes.
Diabetic kidney disease is actually the most common cause of kidney failure. Around one in five people needing dialysis have diabetic kidney disease.
Note: most people with diabetes do not need dialysis.
What Sexual Problems Can Women With Diabetes Have
Low sexual desire and response, vaginal dryness, and painful sex can be caused by nerve damage, reduced blood flow to the genitals, and hormonal changes. Other conditions can cause these problems, too, including menopause. If you notice a change in your sex life, talk with your health care team. A physical exam, which will include a pelvic exam, and blood and urine tests may help your doctor find the cause of your problems.
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Diabetes Insipidus Vs Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes insipidus is a different disease from diabetes mellitus. Their names are similar, but the only things they have in common is that they make you thirsty and make you pee a lot.
If you have diabetes insipidus, the hormones that help your body balance liquids donât work. Only one in every 25,000 people gets this condition.
With diabetes mellitus , your body canât use energy from food like it should. Itâs far more common. Around 100 million Americans have type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
What Are The Symptoms Of High Blood Pressure And Early Kidney Disease
High blood pressure is known as a silent killer because it typically doesnt have a single symptom. In fact, the only way to really tell if you have high blood pressure is by checking it.
Early-stage kidney disease also rarely has any symptoms. Your doctor will look for the presence of certain proteins like albumin in your urine in order to diagnose the condition.
If youre at the point where youre seeing blood in your urine, then you need to see a doctor to treat your kidney disease. Your kidneys wont be able to heal if the underlying cause is uncontrolled HBP. In this case, youll need to lower your blood pressure before you have any hope of recovery.
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What Is The Outlook
- If you have microalbuminuria , this may clear away, especially with treatment.
- If you have proteinuria , over time the disease tends to become worse and progress to end-stage kidney failure. However, the length of time this takes can vary and it may take years. If your kidneys do begin to fail you should be referred to a kidney specialist.
- Once the kidney function goes below a certain level then you will need kidney dialysis or a kidney transplant.
- A main concern is the increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack and stroke, are the main causes of death in people with diabetic kidney disease. The treatments outlined above will reduce the risk of these occurring.
Good Control Of Your Blood Glucose Level
Good control of your blood sugar level will help to delay the progression of the kidney disease and to reduce your risk of developing associated cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease and stroke. Ideally, the aim is to maintain your HbA1c to less than 48 mmol/mol but this may not always be possible to achieve and the target level of HbA1c should be agreed on an individual basis between you and your doctor.
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High Blood Sugar Levels
When your blood sugar levels are high , the renal tubes in your kidneys simply cannot absorb all of that glucose present, so the excess glucose inevitably passes through your urine.
Short-term, this is the body taking care of itself, but it can lead to other issues, like yeast infections. That glucose encourages the growth of yeast in the vagina .
While a certain amount of yeast is normal, consistently high blood sugars will throw this natural yeast balance out of whack and become an ongoing problem until blood sugar levels come down to a healthier level.
In a person whose kidneys are functioning fully and properly, high blood sugar levels are the only reason you would see measurable amounts of glucose in your urine.
Can Diabetes Cause Shortness Of Breath And Blood In Urine
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How Does High Blood Pressure Cause Kidney Disease
High blood pressure is a serious problem that affects around 45% of the adult U.S. population. Of those with HBP, around 20% have also developed chronic kidney disease.
Your kidneys are the organs that filter out waste products and excess fluids from your blood. They do this with finger-like cells called nephrons that are each supplied by their own tiny blood vessel . Overall, the kidneys need to interact with a large number of blood vessels in order to function.
High blood pressure can damage the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys cutting off vital supplies of oxygen and nutrients. Over time, this damages your kidneys, and they begin to fail.
Once your kidneys start to fail, a vicious cycle begins. They cant filter out enough fluid, which leads to even higher blood pressure. Also damaged kidneys produce less of a hormone called aldosterone, which helps your body properly regulate your blood pressure.
If this situation goes on for too long, your kidneys will fail, and you could die.