Prevent Diabetic Urinary Tract Infections

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urinary tract infections and diabetes

A urinary tract infection is caused by bacteria.

This is not viral.

This is not yeast, fungus, or mold.

Diabetes can have short-term and long-term effects on the urinary system.

High blood sugar levels can promote bacterial growth and increases the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs).

 

So how do I protect myself against urinary tract infections?

 

Cranberry juice!

Preferably buy the non-sugar kind.

Take ½ glass of water with ½ glass of cranberry juice. Mix it together and drink daily.

 

How does this prevent urinary tract infections? What does this do?

 

Cranberry juice does two things:

1 – it changes your urine to an acid so bacteria can’t live in your bladder (the bag that holds your urine).

2 – Cranberry juice contains D-mannose. This simply stops the bacteria from attaching to your bladder lining which, if it does, will cause you to have an infection.

 

But I hate cranberry juice!

 

OK, then try apples, oranges, peaches, broccoli, or green beans.

Watch your intake of sugar with all fruits and be sure to have fiber (which keeps the sugar from being absorbed into your blood).

 

But I thought fiber is a carb.  I don’t want carbs!

 

No, no.  Fiber is a GOOD carb!

Fiber cannot be absorbed by your body, so it doesn’t get into the blood.

So even though it’s a carb it does not make your sugars spike.

Fiber helps push waste through your colon. It encourages normal bowel movements.

 

Most Americans get only half the fiber they need but you can’t just go crazy with fiber or you will find yourself bloated and very uncomfortable.

You have to ramp up your fiber over days or weeks.

 

Do some diabetes medications make me have urinary tract infections? 

 

This one could: SGLT2 inhibitors –

Examples of these drugs are:

  • Invokana  and Invokamet (canagliflozin)
  • Farxiga (dapagliflozin)
  • Jardiance (empagliflozin)

 

SGLT2 inhibitors are a class of prescription medicines that are FDA-approved for use with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.

They work by preventing the kidneys from reabsorbing sugar back into the blood.

So the sugar leaves your body through your urine.

Bacteria LOVE!! sugar.

And more sugar in your urine means you are more likely to have a urinary tract infection.

But these drugs also have several side effects besides causing SERIOUS urinary tract infections.

Most recently, FDA now asks all pharmacists to warn their patients about a serious genital area infection, leg and foot amputations, or getting too much acid in the blood.

 

Other infections that cause your sugars to spike

 

Yep! Flu and COVID!

Click here to get this FREE eBook on the devastating effects of flu and COVID on diabetes, Quick & Easy Flu/COVID Recovery.

Remember, the longer you are ill, the longer your sugar stays high.

The longer your sugar stays high, the more damage to your wonderful body.

Your organs and tissues can’t work very well.

 

It’s like “road construction for the next 20 miles”! Ugh.

Everything slows, bad drivers get worse, and it’s a mess.

About the Author

Do you feel frustrated with your medical care? Do doctors spend 5 minutes with you, push you out of the office, with you wondering what's going to happen? Does your insurance deny paying? You're not alone. I'm frustrated, too. This is a growing trend in healthcare. Having seen pre-insurance medicine (yes, my dad was an old country doctor), I grew up watching him spend time with his patients, giving them the best care he had to offer. I saw families trust him to help them through hospitalizations and the next crisis. As a patient advocate, my job is to see that you get the right diagnosis, the right treatment plans, and the right supplies and education to make good decisions about your health. More importantly, I will teach you the tricks of the healthcare trade. We need more healthcare consumer protection, especially for chronic illnesses like diabetes. This is what I am passionate about. I make it happen every day with thousands of patients who now know what I know about beating the healthcare system and getting the best patient care...Patient Best.

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HEALTH DISCLAIMER

This blog provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, or in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. If you or any other person has a medical concern, you should consult with your healthcare provider or seek other professional medical treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something that has been read on this blog or in any linked materials. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately. The opinions and views expressed on this blog and website have no relation to those of any academic, hospital, health practice or other institution. Nor does this material constitute a provider-patient relationship between the reader and the author. 

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