Frequent Urination & Excessive Thirst: Are They Diabetes Symptoms?
If you go to the bathroom more often these days and/or feel excessively thirsty, it might be related to diabetes and elevated blood sugar. Read on to learn more.
If you’ve noticed more trips to the bathroom lately, particularly if the urge to go happens at night when you should be sleeping, you might be looking at more than an inconvenience. It might be a warning sign that your blood sugar is elevated or that you need to address another medical condition.
In this post, we’ll look at two of the most common symptoms of diabetes – frequent urination and excessive thirst – and discuss how they’re related to the disease, why they happen, and what you should do if you’re experiencing them.
How Often Should You Be Urinating?
How do you know if you have frequent urination issues? According to the Cleveland Clinic, most people feel the urge to urinate about seven to eight times during an average day. So, if you’re getting up every 30 minutes or so to pee, that’s a bit more often than expected. But it’s also important to note that these are general numbers; certain things can trigger more frequent urination, such as if you have upped your fluid levels or are taking certain medications that serve as diuretics. It’s not necessarily a blood sugar problem.
Having to go during the night is another consideration. It’s not uncommon for someone in their 40s or 50s to have to get up to urinate once during the night. As we approach our 70s, this may increase to two or even three times a night. But waking with the need to go too many times during the night, a condition known as nocturia, not only interrupts healthy sleep patterns, but it is also often a sign of an underlying health concern.
What really matters is what is normal for you. If you feel like you are going to the bathroom more often than you’re accustomed to – then you probably are.
How Does Diabetes Cause Frequent Urination?
The reason frequent urination is a common symptom of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes comes down to the body’s inability to process blood sugar. Whether it’s a case of undiagnosed diabetes that’s not being treated yet or diagnosed diabetes that is not being adequately managed, the disease causes blood glucose (sugar) levels to rise.
When this happens, the body recognizes the situation and looks for ways to expel the extra blood sugar. The organs it turns to are the kidneys, which kick into overdrive and begin working hard to eliminate excess blood sugar by expelling it through urination. This is why you must pee a lot more often when blood sugar spikes.
Why Diabetes Causes Excessive Thirst (Polydipsia)
You very well may be dehydrated, which is a compliment to diabetes. When the kidneys work harder, and you go to the bathroom more, the process is not just eliminating excess blood sugar. It’s also pulling fluid from your body and its tissues, leaving you dehydrated and excessively thirsty.
This is a condition known as polydipsia, and it is widespread in people with diabetes. Along with excessive thirst, you might also experience a persistent dry mouth sensation that doesn’t go away even when you drink plenty of fluids.
Dangers of Ignoring Frequent Urination & Thirst
Frequent urination and excessive thirst go hand-in-hand, and while they might not seem all that dangerous, they are nothing to ignore. Here are two important reasons why:
- Dehydration: Dehydration can be severe if it continues over an extended period, leading to nausea, dizziness, headaches, and even a loss of consciousness. Eventually, dehydration can also prevent the kidneys from expelling blood sugar as readily as they once did, which means blood sugar can build up and spike rapidly.
- Elevated Blood Sugar: Frequent urination and polydipsia are signs that blood sugar is significantly elevated. This could mean that your diabetes is out of control or that you have undiagnosed diabetes and need medical attention immediately.
Other Causes of Frequent Urination & Thirst
Other medical conditions can contribute to both frequent urination and excessive thirst. These include:
- Enlarged prostate in men
- Certain medications (diuretics)
- Heart failure
- Excessive alcohol use
- Overactive bladder
- Pregnancy
- Nervous system conditions
- Urinary tract conditions
When to See a Doctor About Frequent Urination & Thirst
If you go to the bathroom more than 8 times daily, it’s time to see a doctor. But, again, the barometer has been normal for you. If you sense that you are peeing more frequently than you once were, especially if you’re also experiencing unusual thirst, it’s important to see a doctor sooner rather than later. There is a good chance that these symptoms are related to an underlying health issue – some of which can be serious, such as diabetes, if they are not properly treated and managed.
If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes and are experiencing these symptoms, your blood sugar may be spiking, which means you might require some adjustments to your treatment and management program. So, it’s important to see your endocrinologist as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions about Diabetes & Urination
Is Frequent Urination a Sign of Diabetes?
Frequent urination can be a sign of diabetes, especially if it’s accompanied by excessive thirst. When diabetes is left untreated or is not properly managed, blood sugar levels rise in the body, forcing the kidneys to work harder to eliminate excess glucose. This results in more frequent trips to the bathroom and is considered one of the early warning signs of the disease.
Why Does Diabetes Cause Frequent Urination?
Diabetes causes elevated blood sugar levels. When this happens, the kidneys work overtime to expel excess glucose from the bloodstream through urination. So, if you are urinating more often, it could be due to undiagnosed diabetes or an issue with managing the disease.
Diabetes and Thirst: What's the Connection?
Excessive thirst, also known as polydipsia, is another common symptom of diabetes. When blood sugar levels rise, and the kidneys work hard to expel the extra glucose through urination, the body also expels more fluids, causing dehydration. This leads to excessive thirst and often dry mouth.
What Are the Other Symptoms of Diabetes?
Some of the more common symptoms of diabetes include blurry vision, fatigue, unexpected weight loss, and slow-healing wounds. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately for diagnosis and treatment.
How Is Frequent Urination Treated?
If diabetes is the cause of your frequent urination, treatment focuses on lowering blood sugar levels to reduce the strain on your kidneys. This may require changes to your diet, medications, or insulin therapy. Other lifestyle changes such as regular exercise and weight management can also help improve your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar and, in turn, reduce frequent urination.
