Hydration should be a priority in Type 2 diabetes management. Inadequate water intake can make blood sugar control more difficult, something we do not need on our plates as Type 2 diabetics.
At Damndiabetes.ca, we live and breathe diabetes treatments every day. We are diabetic and know intimately, like you, what it takes to adequately manage diabetes, blood glucose and A1C levels. And not becoming dehydrated should be a big part of our diabetes treatment.
How Do You Feel?
We have all experienced thirst before. It is not something foreign or new to us. We know how dehydration makes one feel; sluggish lethargic, and surprisingly it can negatively impact the amount of blood getting to the heart and other vital body organs.
How could it be that something so benign as not having sufficient water in your body has such a negative impact? The short answer is our bodies are about 97% water; lose some of that and watch out.
Signs You are Dehydrated
The most basic sign is thirst. You are dying to grab that bottle of pop and have the fortitude to stick to water. One trick I use is having a good supply of sparking water on hand, made with my own hands using a Soda Stream, and to which I add things like lemon or apple slices to give the water a bit of a kick.
Fixing dehydration can get pretty boring if one just sticks to water, and I suggest the chances of grabbing that bottle of pop will become even more stronger.
Other signs of dehydration can include fatigue, dizziness, and headaches, reportedly the top three signs of diabetes dehydration, as well as the following:
· Muscle cramps
· Urinating less often than normal
· Dark Skin
· Lethargy
· Fainting
· Confusion
· Dry, shrivelled skin
Health Risks of Dehydration
For folks with Type 2 diabetes, we must be very mindful of the health risks. Dehydration can be especially dangerous, causing blood pressure to fall and the body to secrete stress hormones inhibiting our ability to manage blood sugar levels. It becomes a vicious cycle.
It can come on surprisingly fast on a hot, summer day when you’re exerting yourself: dry mouth, fatigue, dizziness, and then the realization that you may be dehydrated. Yet this common health condition can occur regardless of the weather or how active you are. In fact, upwards of one-half million people are hospitalized in the United States for it yearly, and roughly 10,000 die in hospital, and all are preventable by watching for the signs of dehydration.
To better understand the negative impacts of dehydration, more study but the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has stepped forward with its own set of recommendations. The Society suggests “91 ounces of water per day for women and 125 ounces per day for men, with some of that coming from water-rich foods like fruits and vegetables,” which should provide for better blood glucose control.
Conclusion
Type 2 diabetes is an insidious disease that can be exacerbated by dehydration. Dehydration affects the opportunity to control blood glucose sugar levels, which in turn causes diabetes risk to your body and organs, up to and including death. Don’t let that happen to you. Listen to your body and do what is right. If you want help to build a better quality of life living with diabetes, give us a shout. We are Damdiabetes.ca are always available to help. Call today.
Best wishes …
Wayne Drury was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes over one year ago. He was frustrated with the lack of usable information on the treatment of diabetes and how to lower blood sugar effectively. His passion now, using all he has found with diabetes research, is helping others on a path to a better quality of life living with diabetes, which he shares on his personal website.
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