Three specific ailments are most common in people with diabetes: polydipsia, polyuria, and polyphagia, which are known as the three P's of diabetes.
Polydipsia
Polydipsia is the medical term used to describe extreme and excessive thirst. Often polydipsia is linked to conditions that affect the renal system and can cause a person to urinate more frequently than they should. This increase in urination leads the body to feel as though it needs to replace the liquid lost during urination. It has also been linked to conditions that lead to excessive fluid loss such as excessive sweating, high-salt diets, and the use of diuretics.
When it comes to diabetes, polydipsia is one of the most common symptoms. Since diabetes leads to an excessive amount of glucose in the blood, the body must do something to try to balance those levels. The kidneys create more urine so that the glucose can be excreted quickly, thus restoring glucose levels to normal. This can lead to a rapid loss of fluid and, in turn, thirstiness.
Polyuria
Polyuria means urinating a lot, and it often goes hand in hand with polydipsia. It is one of the most common symptoms of diabetes.3 It is so typical in people who have diabetes because when glucose builds up, it can enter tubules within the kidneys. If the glucose goes into those tubules but is unable to be reabsorbed back into the bloodstream, it leads to an increase in urination. While the kidneys attempt to filter out the glucose, they also filter out more water from other parts of the body. This leads to the overproduction of urine that then needs to be secreted.
It can be difficult to diagnose the cause of polyuria without taking into consideration polydipsia as they are typically both present at the same time. When one is extremely thirsty, they tend to urinate more from drinking more liquids. When one urinates more, they become more dehydrated and experience an increase in thirst.
Central Diabetes Insipidus and the Three P's
Although people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can present with polydipsia and polyuria, another type of rare disorder known as central diabetes insipidus (CDI) can also lead to both excessive thirst and urination. The cause of CDI, however, is not related to common diabetes and can be attributed to a specific deficiency in the protein arginine vasopressin.
Polyphagia
Polyphagia is the medical term used to describe excessive hunger. There are times when an increase in appetite is expected, such as after an increase in physical activity or during hormonal changes, but eating will typically satisfy the hunger and appetite levels will normalize following food consumption. In the case of polyphagia, eating will not stop the hunger.
In those with diabetes, since glucose is not easily transferred into cells to be used for energy, the body will continue to send signals to the brain that it is hungry because it isn’t getting the energy it needs from the food already eaten.
Diagnosis: Are the Three P’s Enough?
All three P's are found in most diabetics, but for those with type 2 diabetes, they may be less noticeable than in those with type 1 diabetes. In some cases, those with diabetes may not experience these symptoms at all and could still have the condition.
For a doctor to diagnose diabetes, they will take note of all the symptoms and perform some tests. Some tests a doctor will conduct include:
- A1C test: This test looks at a blood marker that gives an estimate of the average blood glucose over the past two to three months. If a person has diabetes, their percentage will be 6.5% or higher.
- Fasting blood sugar test: This test requires a person to avoid all food consumption for a period of time, typically overnight. It measures blood sugar levels after not eating to determine if they are still high without any food being put into the body. If a person has a level of 126 mg/dL or higher after a fasting test, they have diabetes.
- Glucose tolerance test: This test also requires an overnight fast, but it is done differently than the fasting blood sugar test. Doctors will measure your blood sugar levels before you drink a liquid that has glucose and then again after you do. The blood sugar levels could be checked anywhere from one to three hours after you drink this liquid. If after two hours blood sugar levels are 200 mg/dL or higher, that indicates that you have diabetes.
- Random blood sugar test: Unlike the fasting and glucose tolerance test, this one is done randomly without any fasting. If blood sugar levels are shown to be 200 mg/dL or higher, it indicates that someone has diabetes.
Even if a person doesn’t have diabetes, the presence of polydipsia, polyuria, and polyphagia indicates that blood glucose levels in the body are high. It’s vital to control blood glucose levels to avoid any health complications that can arise from it. High blood sugar can lead to various health issues because it can cause blood vessel damage. When this happens, the risk for developing heart disease, kidney disease, vision or nerve problems, and stroke are all increased.
Managing blood sugar levels can be easy to do if a person is aware of the symptoms to watch out for. In the case of low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycaemia, keeping certain supplies handy such as fruit juice, regular soda, hard candy, or glucose tablets can help restore levels. To manage high blood sugar, also known as hyperglycaemia, it’s recommended that a person becomes more active on a regular basis and eats foods that have a low glycaemic index.
Consumption of carbohydrates should also be kept in check. Choose to eat fewer carbs or by choosing carbs that are slowly digested. This can help decrease the risk of a blood sugar spike. It’s also important to eat regularly and avoid skipping meals, limit alcohol and junk food consumption, and practice portion control.
Exercise and Blood Sugar Levels
Exercise is a vital component of managing blood sugar levels. Studies have shown that brief high-intensity workouts can help keep blood sugar in check for one to three days following the exercise session.
A Word From Verywell
In the event that you are suffering from the three P’s, you should seek medical attention from your doctor. They will help confirm or rule out diabetes. Other symptoms that aren’t included in the three P’s should also be monitored. Getting blood work regularly, even if you don’t have symptoms that are typically present for those with undiagnosed diabetes, can help identify whether you have high blood sugar or prediabetes. Early detection can help prevent the development of type 2 diabetes by simply making a few lifestyle changes.
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