How Do UTIs Affect Diabetic Patients? What is the Link Between Diabetes & Urine Infections?
Most of us have experienced a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), at least once in our lives. The pain, burning sensation, and constant urge to urinate make it hard to sit still, much less get any work done.
Sadly, diabetes and UTI are near-constant companions. Have you ever wondered why is this the case? Is there a link between diabetes and UTIs? Are there any measures to prevent them?
Read on to learn more!
What are Urinary Tract Infections?
As the name suggests, a urinary tract infection or UTI is an infection that affects any component of the urinary tract. Your urinary tract is made up of the upper urinary tract (kidneys and ureters) and the lower urinary tract (bladder and urethra).
UTIs occur when pathogens (usually bacteria) enter your urine and start growing in the lining of your urinary tract. This leads to inflammation in your urinary tract, which causes most of the symptoms like pain, burning, pus and blood in urine, etc.
What Causes UTIs in Diabetics?
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) manifest when bacteria or other organisms enter and propagate in your urinary system. In diabetes, UTIs are complicated by the following factors:
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High Blood and Urine Sugar Levels
Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes are characterised by elevated blood and urine glucose (sugar) levels. High urine sugar levels provide a hospitable condition for infection-causing bacteria to grow, as bacteria feed on sugar. This is one of the most important reasons for recurrent UTIs in diabetic patients.
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Autonomic Neuropathy
Persistently high blood sugar levels caused by diabetes can damage the autonomous nerves that control your bladder. Nerve injury can prevent your bladder from emptying as the muscles in your bladder do not respond well to nerve signals. This causes urine to stay in your bladder for a long time. Any amount of urine that stays in your body for an extended period increases your chance of infection.
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Weakened Immune System
Diabetes weakens various aspects of your immune system. As a result, you have fewer white blood cells and T-cells left to fight off invading bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Due to this, people with diabetes are prone to recurrent UTIs caused by bacteria. Antibiotics, when used regularly in such cases, may also become ineffective due to the bacteria developing antibiotic resistance.
What are the Symptoms of UTIs in Diabetes?
If you or someone you care about has diabetes, call a doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms:
- Frequent urination (polyuria) and an intense urge to urinate
- Pain, a burning sensation, or discomfort when urinating
- Urine with a strong odour
- Urine that is cloudy, dark, or bloody
- Lower back pain or abdomen pain
- Chills or a feverish feeling
It is important to note that you do not have to have all the symptoms of UTIs, and the symptoms might vary from person to person. Some diabetics, particularly those with diabetic neuropathy, may not feel pain in the abdomen or back when they have a UTI.
Symptoms may also vary with age. Diabetes and UTIs in the elderly can manifest as confusion or behavioural changes, or cause agitation in some older adults with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
It is also important to note the difference between UTI and diabetes symptoms. Both often cause frequent urination, cloudy urine, and strong-smelling urine. However, frequent urination in diabetes is not accompanied by pain or a burning sensation like in a UTI.
Similarly, the cause of cloudy urine in diabetes is the accumulation of glucose, whereas in a UTI, your urine may appear cloudy due to the discharge of pus or blood. Further, in diabetes, your urine is often sweet-smelling, which is different from the strong, foul smell caused by UTIs.
Let’s face it—diabetes comes with a ton of questions. Whether it’s dealing with dry mouth or unexplained weight loss, here’s everything you need to know about symptoms and how to manage them more effectively.
How Do UTIs Affect Diabetic Patients?
Due to frequent urination in diabetes and reduced bladder emptying caused by nerve damage, diabetic patients are more likely to come in contact with bacteria and develop urinary tract infections. These bacteria benefit from elevated sugar levels that provide them with a favourable environment for development. Therefore, it is essential that urinary tract infections in people with diabetes are diagnosed at the earliest, and appropriate treatment is provided. Urine culture reports are used to diagnose urinary tract infections.
Diabetics are also more likely to experience recurrent infections, as high blood sugar levels weaken your immune system, and slow down your body’s ability to heal and fight off infections. This can prolong the time the bacteria stays in your body, which makes it more likely to spread to other parts of your urinary tract, like your kidneys.
This can lead to a condition called pyelonephritis, where recurrent UTIs can cause infection and inflammation in the kidneys. Having diabetes puts you at a higher risk of developing pyelonephritis.
How are UTIs in Diabetic Patients Treated?
In general, the treatment of UTIs is comparable in diabetic and non-diabetic individuals, but the choice of antibiotics in diabetic UTI patients is a crucial issue in therapeutic management.
The interaction of antimicrobial medications with anti-hyperglycemic medications may result in altered glucose control. Studies have found that some antibiotics used to treat UTIs and respiratory tract infections can cause blood sugar fluctuations which can lead to poor glycaemic control and worsening of your UTI. Some antibiotics can also cause an imbalance in your gut bacteria and microbiome, leading to altered insulin sensitivity in your cells.
The management of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in diabetics is influenced by a number of factors, including the following:
- The symptoms present
- Severity of symptoms
- Location of the infection: lower urinary tract (bladder) or upper urinary tract (also involves kidney)
- Renal function
- Urological abnormalities
Furthermore, the treatment of UTIs differs depending on the patient’s age, gender, infectious agent, and other underlying conditions involved. Diabetes and UTI in the elderly cannot be treated with the same medication or dosage as healthy individuals under the age of 60, as many other factors like kidney and liver function, and the presence of other underlying conditions must be considered before treatment.
How Can You Prevent Diabetes-Induced UTIs?
Managing your diabetes effectively will help you avoid UTIs. High blood glucose levels, for example, can increase your risk of contracting a UTI, so keeping blood sugar levels in check is critical. When you urinate, make sure you empty your bladder. Emptying the bladder can be a problem for people with diabetes, which promotes bacterial growth, leading to further illnesses.
Other UTI prevention tips apply, irrespective of whether you have diabetes. They are:
- Stay hydrated; drink plenty of water.
- If you feel the urge to urinate, do not hold it in.
- Always wipe front to back after urinating.
- Wear underwear made of a breathable material, such as cotton.
When to See a Doctor?
Consult your doctor if you experience any of the symptoms listed above or face other urinary issues. Prompt treatment can relieve your symptoms and prevent the spread of the infection. Untreated UTIs can cause major problems, such as renal damage or, in rare situations, even kidney failure.
Your doctor will take a urine sample and test it for bacteria and pus to diagnose a UTI. Typically, you will be given an antibiotic. Usually, you will start to feel better within a few days of beginning treatment.
However, you must continue the medication for the entire course prescribed by your doctor. Treatment may take several weeks if the infection has progressed to your kidneys.
Don’t Have Time To Read?
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) occur when bacteria enter your urinary tract through your urethra and start growing in the lining of your bladder.
- Diabetes patients are more likely to develop urinary tract infections due to frequent urination and high glucose levels in the blood. Bacteria benefit from elevated blood and urine sugar levels, which provide them with a favourable environment for growth. Due to frequent urination, diabetic patients are more likely to come in contact with bacteria and develop UTIs.
- Diabetics are also likely to experience bladder issues caused by damage to the autonomous nerves that control the urinary tract. This causes urine to stay in the bladder for a longer time and increases your risk of contracting UTIs.
- Diabetes weakens various aspects of your immune system as well. As a result, you have fewer white blood cells and T-cells left to fight off invading bacteria, increasing the chances of UTIs.
- Symptoms of UTI in diabetes include frequent and intense urge to urinate, pain or burning sensation when urinating, cloudy and strong-smelling urine, fever, chills, and abdomen or lower back pain.
- Urinary tract infections in diabetes require early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Urine culture reports are used to make a diagnosis of urinary tract infection.
- UTI treatment is comparable in diabetic and non-diabetic individuals, but the choice of antibiotics in diabetic UTI patients is a crucial issue in therapeutic management.
- Keeping blood sugar levels in check is critical for the prevention of UTIs in diabetics. When you urinate, make sure you empty as much of your bladder as possible.
Friendly Asked Questions
Why would a UTI be common in a diabetic patient?
Diabetes patients are more likely to develop urinary tract infections (UTIs) due to frequent urination and high blood sugar levels. Bacteria benefit from the elevated sugar content, as it gives them a favourable environment to grow. Due to frequent urination, diabetic patients are more likely to come in contact with bacteria and develop UTIs. Urinary tract infections in diabetes require early diagnosis with appropriate treatment.
Can sugar make a UTI worse?
Yes, sugar is a great food source for the bacteria that may cause a UTI, and it is a food you must avoid if you have a UTI! Sugary foods such as cookies, soda, candy, cake, and other food items containing added sugars, fructose, or starch must be avoided. Artificial sweeteners may seem a healthy substitute for sugar when you want to lower the calorie count. However, if you have a UTI, artificial sweeteners can likely worsen your symptoms.
What colour is your pee when you have diabetes?
When too much glucose (sugar) accumulates in your urine due to diabetes, it can create cloudy urine. Your urine may also have a sweet or fruity odour. Diabetes can also cause kidney issues or raise the risk of UTIs, both of which can cause your urine to appear hazy or cloudy.
What should you not eat when you have a UTI?
You should avoid the following foods if you have a UTI:
-Sugar by itself
-Sugary foods or drinks
-Acidic foods like citrus fruits
-Caffeine
-Spicy foods
-Alcohol
-Carbohydrate-rich foods.
Can you flush out a UTI?
Yes! If you have contracted a urinary tract infection (UTI), you may be recommended to drink at least six to eight glasses (1.5 to 2 litres) of water daily. This can help flush the infection from the system. Your doctor may also recommend you to eat probiotic foods like yoghurt, which can help promote the growth of healthy bacteria in your body, which can fight the UTI-causing bacteria. Drinking water until the urine is no longer cloudy and the stream is vigorous is the best way to flush the infection out of your system.
Are eggs bad for UTIs?
No, eggs are not harmful to UTIs. They are high in protein and are listed as one of the ‘least uncomfortable’ foods for bladder issues. However, make sure to handle and cook eggs properly before eating them, in order to avoid contracting bacteria like Salmonella, which are often found in animal products.
What is the fastest home remedy for urinary tract infections?
There are various natural ways to protect yourself from urinary tract infections (UTIs) and lower the likelihood of recurrence. Here are the best home cures for UTIs:
-Drink plenty of water.
-Increase vitamin C intake, which may reduce the incidence of UTIs by improving urine acidity, which kills infection-causing bacteria.
-Cranberries may help minimise UTIs by preventing bacteria from adhering to the urinary system.
-Consume probiotic beverages or foods, which support the growth of beneficial and pathogen-fighting bacteria in your body.
-Urinate frequently.
