Can Dehydration Be a Symptom of Diabetes?

From verywellhealth.com

When you're dehydrated, you're losing more fluid than you're taking in, which affects how well your body functions. Dehydration is common in people with diabetes, a chronic condition of high blood sugar. As a result, you may feel extremely thirsty and urinate less frequently, and severe dehydration can be dangerous.

This article will explain the connection between dehydration and diabetes, why it happens, what to do about it, and when it's critical to see a healthcare provider.

Maksim Chernyshev / EyeEm / Getty Images

What Is Dehydration?

When you're dehydrated, you lose more fluid through urination or sweat than you get through food or drink. Your body is about 60% water, which keeps many body systems functioning.

If you don't have enough fluid in your body, it's not just that you feel thirsty—it affects your brain, joints, temperature, digestion, and virtually every other system that keeps you going.

When Dehydration Is Dangerous for People With Diabetes

If you become severely dehydrated and have diabetes, it can make your blood sugar spike and lead to complications that can be life-threatening. If you feel faint, are not urinating, have a rapid heartbeat or respiration, or feel confused, seek emergency medical care or call 911.

If severe dehydration is not treated, it may lead to seizures, permanent brain damage, or death.

Is Dehydration a Symptom of Diabetes?

Dehydration is very common in people with diabetes, and extreme thirst, a sign of dehydration, is one of the condition's three major symptoms. Even if you haven't been diagnosed, thirst can be an early sign that your blood sugar, or glucose, may be high.

Here's how diabetes can make you prone to dehydration. The kidneys normally reabsorb blood sugar. But if blood sugar levels are too high, the kidneys can't keep up, and sugar passes into the urine, along with more fluid. You pee more. Fluid is also drawn out of cells if you are not drinking enough to keep up. These processes can lead to dehydration.

If you are mildly dehydrated, you may:

• Feel thirsty
• Have dry eyes or mouth
• Be lightheaded
• Feel tired
• Urinate less frequently
• Have dark, strong-smelling urine
  

People with diabetes are more likely to become dehydrated by:

• Not drinking enough water
• Exercising intensely
• Being out in hot, humid weather
• Drinking alcohol
  

Not Drinking Enough Water

Everyone needs to drink sufficient amounts of water, but if your blood sugar is high, it makes you urinate more, so you have more fluid to replace. You can get dehydrated if you are not drinking enough water or clear liquid to compensate for the additional fluid loss.

The medical term for excessive thirst is polydipsia, which you feel when your body is signalling you to replace the liquid.

Intense Exercise

Sweating from intense physical activity makes anyone lose fluid, but if you have diabetes, it can dehydrate you for another reason. While moderate exercise can lower your blood sugar, when you push yourself hard, your muscles can't use insulin (the substance that moves glucose from your bloodstream into your cells) as efficiently.

The glucose remains in your bloodstream because your kidneys can't keep up. You can develop glycosuria (your urine contains higher than normal amounts of blood sugar).

Hot, Humid Weather

When the weather is hot and humid, the risk of dehydration rises among everyone, including those with diabetes. The heat makes you lose fluid by sweating.

But when the sweat can't evaporate due to high humidity, your body works harder to stay cool. That means you sweat more, blood circulation increases, you breathe faster, and your body temperature may rise. These factors can reduce the amount of fluid in your body.

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol lowers the amount of a hormone called vasopressin, which suppresses urination. Less vasopressin in your system means you pee more and lose fluid.

The percentage of alcohol in a drink matters. Beer can have a less dehydrating effect than spirits because beer typically has about 5% alcohol, while spirits can be over 50% alcohol.

Can Caffeine Cause Dehydration?

Expert opinion has evolved on whether caffeine is dehydrating. The idea originated in a 1928 study, which assumed that caffeine is dehydrating because it makes you urinate. However, a 2014 study asserted that drinking moderate amounts of caffeine was not dehydrating.

There is evidence that caffeine consumption may even lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. However, be aware of how much sugar and cream are in your coffee, which can raise your blood sugar.

Treatment and Management of Dehydration

If you have diabetes and feel symptoms of dehydration, start drinking clear fluids (preferably water) slowly. Other liquids, like sports drinks, can contain a lot of sugar, so water is your best bet.

You will know you are becoming less dehydrated when your urine becomes lighter in colour. If you are in the sun, get into the shade or into an air-conditioned building. If you are exercising intensively, slow down and rest while you rehydrate.

Is Dehydration a Symptom of Diabetes Insipidus?

Diabetes insipidus is a rare condition in which your body doesn't regulate fluids the way it should due to hormone imbalance. It shares some symptoms of diabetes mellitus, including extreme thirst and potential dehydration, but it is a different disease.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

If you have symptoms of severe dehydration, such as trouble breathing, feeling confused or faint, or feeling like your heart is pounding and you're breathing fast, seek immediate medical care. Severe dehydration can be fatal.

In an emergency setting, healthcare providers can take your vital signs and check your electrolyte (mineral) balance and kidney function. They can address blood sugar levels if they are too high or low and give you fluids through an intravenous (IV) line to reduce dehydration.

Summary

Dehydration is a very common symptom of diabetes. Your body is losing more fluid than it's taking in. If your blood sugar is high, your body will work overtime to eliminate it through urination, losing more fluid. Being very thirsty can be an early sign of high blood sugar.

If you feel moderately dehydrated, slowly drink water or clear liquids, and don't exert yourself. If you are in the hot sun, find shade or air conditioning. Severe dehydration can be life-threatening and requires emergency medical care.

A Word From Verywell

Diabetes can be a complex condition, and the higher risk of dehydration is a complicating factor. Your health will benefit from staying well-hydrated.

Talk to a healthcare provider about how many ounces of water you should drink each day if you're not sure. Having a clear goal is good, so you can benefit from consuming plenty of the most important fluid out there.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Why do people with diabetes often feel dehydrated?

  When you have high blood sugar, your body tries to get rid of it through the kidneys and by pulling water from your cells. That makes you pee more. As a result, you lose fluid, making you feel dehydrated.

• Does diabetes make you have to urinate frequently?

  If your blood sugar isn't well controlled, you may find you are frequently urinating as your body tries to get rid of the excess blood sugar in your bloodstream.

• Can dehydration raise your blood sugar levels?

  Yes, dehydration can raise your blood sugar levels because glucose becomes more concentrated when there is less fluid in your body. Sipping water throughout the day and staying away from sugary drinks can help avoid blood sugar spikes.

• https://www.verywellhealth.com/diabetes-and-dehydration-6501265
  

 

Can Thirst Be a Symptom of Diabetes?

From verywellhealth.com

Excessive thirst, known as polydipsia, is one of the most common symptoms of diabetes. It often occurs with other signs of diabetes, including frequent urination (polyuria) and intense hunger (polyphagia).

Diabetes is not the only cause of thirst. Feeling thirsty is also common when you’re dehydrated or have recently eaten a salty meal. Certain medications, like diuretics (“water pills"), may also increase thirst.

This article explores why diabetes causes excessive thirst, treatment and management of diabetes, and when to see your healthcare provider. 

Grace Cary / Getty Images

What Is Thirst? 

Thirst is defined as a strong feeling or craving to drink fluids, usually accompanied by sensations of dry mouth and throat. The human body is about 60% water, and feeling thirsty is a signal from the brain to replenish body fluids when dehydrated.

Staying hydrated is essential for supporting critical body processes and maintaining good health. Water helps regulate body temperature, lubricates joints, supports digestion, and removes waste, so it’s important to drink when you feel thirsty.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you’re insatiably thirsty and drinking more fluids than is typically recommended. If your thirst is caused by diabetes, diagnosis and treatment can help manage symptoms.

Is Thirst a Symptom of Diabetes?

Drinking fluids normally satisfies thirst. But people with diabetes often feel thirsty no matter how much fluid they consume. Excessive thirst is one of the earliest signs and most common symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by high glucose (blood sugar) levels, or hyperglycaemia, in the bloodstream. The condition occurs when the body’s ability to produce or respond to insulin —a hormone that helps cells use blood sugar for energy—is impaired. 

When diabetes is left untreated and blood sugar levels remain too high for an extended period, the kidneys must work harder to filter excess glucose and eliminate it through urination. If you’re not drinking enough, the kidneys may draw fluids from body tissues and organs to produce more urine and clear out the glucose. This process can cause dehydration and make you feel thirsty. 

After drinking to quench your thirst, you'll urinate more often. If blood sugar levels remain high, the kidneys will continue working overtime to eliminate excess glucose, the brain will continue to send thirst signals, and you may continue to feel thirsty no matter how much fluid you consume. 

Treatments and Management of Excessive Thirst

Excessive thirst associated with diabetes can be managed with treatments that work to lower blood glucose levels. If you are diagnosed with diabetes, your healthcare provider will develop a treatment plan to keep your blood sugar level within a healthy range and manage symptoms of the disorder. Once your blood sugar level is well controlled, excessive thirst should wane. 

Treatments for diabetes vary depending on the type of diabetes you have.

Type 1 diabetes treatments include:

• Insulin therapy: Insulin is a vital component of type 1 diabetes management. It may be administered by injection, insulin pump, insulin pen, or an inhaler.
• Glucose monitoring: Frequent blood sugar monitoring can be done using blood-sugar meters or continuous glucose monitors. 
• Oral medications: Some people with type 1 diabetes may be prescribed blood pressure drugs and cholesterol medications with insulin to reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications, such as cardiovascular disease. 
• Healthy lifestyle habits: Regular exercise, eating a diabetes-friendly diet (low in carbohydrates and processed sugars), and stress management are essential for managing type 1 diabetes. 

Type 2 diabetes treatments include:

• Lifestyle changes: Some people with type 2 diabetes may manage the condition solely through eating a healthy diet low in carbohydrates and processed sugars, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting regular exercise.  
• Oral medications: If healthy lifestyle habits are not enough to control glucose levels, oral medications that lower blood glucose levels may be prescribed. 
• Insulin: Not everyone with type 2 diabetes requires insulin, but it may be prescribed if lifestyle changes and oral medications are not effectively controlling glucose levels.

When to See Your Healthcare Provider

See your healthcare provider if your thirst is not quenched, regardless of how much you drink, and is accompanied by other unexplained symptoms. Other common symptoms of diabetes include:

• Increased hunger 
• Frequent urination
• Blurry vision 
• Weight loss without trying
• Persistent fatigue 
• Peripheral neuropathy, numbness or tingling in the hands and/or feet 
• Dry skin 

When you see your healthcare provider, they may ask questions about your excessive thirst, including how long you’ve been experiencing it, how quickly it developed, or if you’ve made any recent changes to your diet. If your healthcare provider suspects you have diabetes, they may order tests to check your blood glucose level to provide an accurate diagnosis. 

If you are being treated for diabetes and continue to feel thirsty all the time, your blood sugar levels are not being well controlled. Talk to your healthcare provider about your symptoms so they can adjust your treatment plan and help balance your blood sugar levels.  

Summary 

Excessive thirst is one of the most common symptoms of diabetes. Diabetes is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels. When blood sugar is higher than normal for an extended time, the kidneys must work extra hard to filter and eliminate excess sugar from the bloodstream. This can lead to dehydration and may make people with diabetes feel as if their thirst cannot be quenched.

Diabetes treatments, such as lifestyle changes, insulin therapy, and oral medications, can help control blood sugar levels to reduce symptoms, including excessive thirst. Talk to your healthcare provider if you’re thirstier than usual and have other diabetes symptoms.

If you have a diabetes diagnosis but continue to feel extra thirsty, your blood sugar may not be well controlled. Your healthcare provider may adjust your treatment regimen to help balance your blood glucose level.

A Word From Verywell

Excessive thirst may be an early sign of diabetes. If you live with diabetes, being mindful of your health can help keep your blood sugar levels under control. Taking care of yourself by following your treatment regimen, eating a healthy diet, and getting regular exercise can help you reduce symptoms and manage the condition. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Is excessive thirst a sign of diabetes?

  Excessive thirst is one of the earliest signs and most common symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It is often accompanied by other common symptoms of diabetes, such as frequent urination and intense hunger. 

• What are ways to manage thirst with diabetes?

  Diabetes treatments, such as insulin therapy and oral medications, can balance blood sugar levels and prevent or reduce excessive thirst. Drinking plenty of fluids may help in the short term, but keeping your blood sugar levels within a normal range is essential for managing thirst with diabetes. 

• https://www.verywellhealth.com/diabetes-and-thirst-6541361