Urinary tract infection (UTI) affects more than half the women population worldwide sometime in life. The proportion of women affected by UTI is even greater when they suffer from diabetes. The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) states that individuals with type 2 diabetes are more commonly affected by UTI comparatively and the degree of severity is also worse in such individuals.
Diabetes is a metabolic condition that occurs due to lack of enough insulin or the body’s inability to absorb insulin secreted by the pancreas. Usually, this chronic disease can trigger the risk of numerous other diseases including heart attack, stroke, nerve-related problems, vision problems, dental concerns, and skin ailments. Besides all these, individuals with diabetes are greatly liable to developing UTI, an infection of the urinary tract, that has debilitating impact on the kidneys, urinary bladder, urethra, and ureters. The Link Between UTI & Diabetes UTI infections generally occur when some bacteria enters the urinary system. But what is the lurking cause behind diabetes increasing the risk of UTI? The predominant cause could be that alarmingly high blood glucose levels have the potential to disrupt blood flow and cause nerve damages in the bladder. Due to this, the affected individual doesn’t realize the need to urinate and there is accumulation of urine in the bladder which could lead to growth of bacteria. Various studies show that 25-85% of women with diabetes develop UTI due to diabetic neuropathy. Also, greater the glucose concentration in the body, higher is the risk for the growth of UTI-causing microorganisms. Our immune system is critical for maintaining the health of the body and the presence of diabetes could lead to weakening of the immune system. Due to this, there is increased difficulty in responding to an infection. When our primary defence mechanism is disrupted, the guaranteed protection against UTI is lost. Besides all these, such chain of events decreases the levels of psoriasin, a natural antibiotic present in the body. Attacked Psoriasin Rips Off the Barrier Against UTI Continuous analysis of the major cause behind diabetes and UTI link resulted in a concrete discovery by researchers at the Karolinska Institute who focused on whether the raised blood glucose levels in individuals have something to do with psoriasin, an antibiotic that’s an integral part of the human immune system. On analysis, results showed that high blood glucose levels decreased the levels of antimicrobial psoriasin levels but insulin had no say in any of these processes. Psoriasin is a protein that deflects the binding of the bacteria to the epithelial cells and the endothelial cells. When this binding is not successful, there is no breeding ground for these bacteria inside the urinary bladder. But, the presence of diabetes reduces the availability of these antibiotics which in turn nullify the protective barrier and increase bladder infection risk. To address this issue, the researchers recommend the use of estrogen treatment to correct bacterial growth and reduce infection risk. The suggestion is in line with the one that requests post-menopausal women to use estrogen vaginal creams to avoid UTI, an infection to which these women are at an increased risk. Also, this once again proves that estrogen could be a saviour against urinary tract infection. But, execute caution while administering estrogen as oral administration is never recommended and hasn’t proved to be helpful against UTI. Besides all these, we have abundance research data supporting the notion that urinary tract infections are profoundly present in patients with type 2 diabetes. Not only that, but the infection is more severe as it’s due to more resistant pathogens and hence, causes worse results in diabetics compared to those without the chronic condition. Even Higher Risk During Pregnancy & Old Age The chances of UTI during pregnancy is already high due to changes in the urinary tract. When these pregnant women suffer from diabetes or gestational diabetes, the risk of UTI is even more higher. On a comparative basis, if the risk of UTI in pregnant women is between 3 and 10%, the risk of UTI in pregnant women with diabetes can be as high as 28%. Older people with diabetes are also at an increased risk of UTI due to various factors including the greater potential of the bacteria to bind to the urinary tract, prolonged existence of diabetes, inability of the bladder to empty the urine completely, decreased immunity, and higher levels of HbA1C. Addressing the Concern of UTI with Diabetes The treatment procedures for UTI in persons with diabetes are similar to those without the condition. Besides prescribing certain medications, the treatment varies depending on the individual’s gender, age, presence of any health conditions, and the type of bacteria. The best way to prevent keep yourself away from the dangers of UTI include staying hydrated by consuming plenty of water, keeping blood glucose levels under control, staying fit by exercising regularly, sleeping well, eating a well-balanced diet, and maintaining good personal hygiene. Basically, a healthy lifestyle is critical to avoid UTI risk and getting in touch with a dietitian or nutritionist can help in formulating a comfortable way to lead such a life Conclusion UTI generally triggers a burning sensation while urinating, causes rectal or pelvic pain, urges the individual to pass small quantities of urine frequently, and leads to bloody urine. In case any individual experiences any of these symptoms while having diabetes, it is better to get in touch with a healthcare physician immediately. People with diabetes already find it hard to control infections and if UTI is not detected earlier, there’s a higher potential for the infection spreading prolifically and even causing kidney damage. By following basic personal hygiene and keeping the blood sugar levels under control, it’s not so hard to prevent UTI in individuals with diabetes. Keep in touch with your physician and get tips on quickly identifying UTI, the best ways to prevent its occurrence, and the best ways to care for yourself.
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