Why Does Being Diabetic Make Vaginal Yeast Infections More Likely?
Over the course of their lifetimes, the majority of women will experience one or more yeast infections. There is a particular risk for women who are diabetic, since this affects the yeast cells normally present in the vagina. Usually, the small amount of nutrients in the vagina's acidic surroundings keep these under control. Diabetic women, however, will have higher levels of sugar - more precisely, glucose - in the secretions from their vagina. This is because their blood is also higher in glucose.
The surplus of glucose helps to feed the yeast cells, which then greatly increase in number, causing an infection. This should be prevented by the body's immune system, but its functions are affected by hyperglycemia. It's sometimes the case that one sign of an infection elsewhere in the body is a yeast infection. Alternatively, it may mean unstable levels of blood glucose.
What Symptoms Do Vaginal Yeast Infections Have?
There are several common signs of this type of infection. It may hurt to have sex or urinate. Sometimes there is an unpleasant odor. Cottage cheese-like white secretions and an uncomfortable, itchy sensation near the vagina are also common symptoms. Even so, not all women will see any symptoms. It's possible for yeast infections to show up in places like the mouth - where it's known as thrush - skin folds, or certain parts of the feet. Women with access sites for dialysis may also experience them there. It's possible for more serious infections to result from yeast infections, but they can be uncomfortable on their own.
How Can You Tell if You Have a Yeast Infection?
It's necessary to have a medical examination, which will check to see whether there may other reasons for your symptoms. These may include sexually transmitted diseases or bacterial infections. Yeast can be spotted by looking at a sample of your cells under a microscope. In a small number of cases, additional tests in the lab may be required in order to give you a definite diagnosis.
What Effect Can Yeast Infections Have on Diabetes?
Your body is naturally protected against infection, but these defense mechanisms are blocked by yeast, including in the vagina. A diabetic woman with a yeast infection is more prone to getting additional infections. The reason is that high blood sugar levels and yeast, taken together, make it harder for your body to fight against viruses and bacteria. Since the infection-fighting process can lead to large variations in blood sugar levels, infection is a significant danger for diabetic people.
How Can Yeast Infections be Treated?
There are a variety of anti-fungal medications available, both by prescription and over the counter. These are effective for use in diabetic people. Before you begin to take any medication, you should consult with a health care professional to check that oral anti-fungals will not affect any regular medication you may be taking. An alternative is to use a vaginal medication. Research has suggested that two weeks' treatment may be needed to beat a yeast infection in diabetic women. Nystatin and other oral and topical anti-fungal agents can be obtained by prescription. These can be used against yeast infections in other areas of the body.
If you're a person with diabetes who is fighting a yeast infection, it's very important to follow the instructions your health care provider supplies. You should always take all the medication that has been recommended. It can be dangerous to finish a course of medication early simply because you feel stronger. This can lead to your infection coming back in a more serious way.
What Should Woman Ask Their Health Care Providers?
As soon as you have a solid diagnosis, you should ask about what treatment options are recommended. As an example, you can ask whether oral medications or vaginal cream would work best. If you suffer from several yeast infections each year - usually defined as more than four - then it's a good idea to ask for a check on your diabetes control. This is because excessively high blood sugar can be a cause of yeast infections.
Over the course of their lifetimes, the majority of women will experience one or more yeast infections. There is a particular risk for women who are diabetic, since this affects the yeast cells normally present in the vagina. Usually, the small amount of nutrients in the vagina's acidic surroundings keep these under control. Diabetic women, however, will have higher levels of sugar - more precisely, glucose - in the secretions from their vagina. This is because their blood is also higher in glucose.
The surplus of glucose helps to feed the yeast cells, which then greatly increase in number, causing an infection. This should be prevented by the body's immune system, but its functions are affected by hyperglycemia. It's sometimes the case that one sign of an infection elsewhere in the body is a yeast infection. Alternatively, it may mean unstable levels of blood glucose.
What Symptoms Do Vaginal Yeast Infections Have?
There are several common signs of this type of infection. It may hurt to have sex or urinate. Sometimes there is an unpleasant odor. Cottage cheese-like white secretions and an uncomfortable, itchy sensation near the vagina are also common symptoms. Even so, not all women will see any symptoms. It's possible for yeast infections to show up in places like the mouth - where it's known as thrush - skin folds, or certain parts of the feet. Women with access sites for dialysis may also experience them there. It's possible for more serious infections to result from yeast infections, but they can be uncomfortable on their own.
How Can You Tell if You Have a Yeast Infection?
It's necessary to have a medical examination, which will check to see whether there may other reasons for your symptoms. These may include sexually transmitted diseases or bacterial infections. Yeast can be spotted by looking at a sample of your cells under a microscope. In a small number of cases, additional tests in the lab may be required in order to give you a definite diagnosis.
What Effect Can Yeast Infections Have on Diabetes?
Your body is naturally protected against infection, but these defense mechanisms are blocked by yeast, including in the vagina. A diabetic woman with a yeast infection is more prone to getting additional infections. The reason is that high blood sugar levels and yeast, taken together, make it harder for your body to fight against viruses and bacteria. Since the infection-fighting process can lead to large variations in blood sugar levels, infection is a significant danger for diabetic people.
How Can Yeast Infections be Treated?
There are a variety of anti-fungal medications available, both by prescription and over the counter. These are effective for use in diabetic people. Before you begin to take any medication, you should consult with a health care professional to check that oral anti-fungals will not affect any regular medication you may be taking. An alternative is to use a vaginal medication. Research has suggested that two weeks' treatment may be needed to beat a yeast infection in diabetic women. Nystatin and other oral and topical anti-fungal agents can be obtained by prescription. These can be used against yeast infections in other areas of the body.
If you're a person with diabetes who is fighting a yeast infection, it's very important to follow the instructions your health care provider supplies. You should always take all the medication that has been recommended. It can be dangerous to finish a course of medication early simply because you feel stronger. This can lead to your infection coming back in a more serious way.
What Should Woman Ask Their Health Care Providers?
As soon as you have a solid diagnosis, you should ask about what treatment options are recommended. As an example, you can ask whether oral medications or vaginal cream would work best. If you suffer from several yeast infections each year - usually defined as more than four - then it's a good idea to ask for a check on your diabetes control. This is because excessively high blood sugar can be a cause of yeast infections.
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