Diabetics suffer with a number of problematic symptoms related to their disease. Aside from having to constantly monitor and regulate blood sugar, diabetics may run into other short-term health problems, many of which can cause dangerous complications. These conditions are relatively common, but require immediate medical attention. They include hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, and ketoacidosis.
However, diabetics can feel confident that not every condition is this serious. One of the minor side effects of diabetes is polydipsia, which is more of an annoyance than a serious issue. But why do diabetics have polydipsia? And what does it mean to have polydipsia?
What is Polydipsia?
Polydipsia is a side effect of diabetes. It is a condition where the diabetic becomes excessively thirsty, and no matter how much fluid is taken in, nothing seems to alleviate or quench the thirst. This is because diabetes causes the kidneys to work extra hard to remove the excess sugar from the blood. In turn, this means the kidneys produce more urine, and as the diabetic’s body expels the urine, the body becomes dehydrated.
What Causes Polydipsia?
In most people who have Diabetes mellitus, symptoms of the disease may not be apparent immediately. The telltale sign that a person may suffer with diabetes is increased, insatiable thirst. It is usually present because of higher than normal blood glucose levels; all this means is that the body has too much sugar in the blood. For a diabetic, this requires immediate action in order to bring the sugar back to a healthy level.
It’s important to note that people who already have diabetes will possess the proper blood sugar testing equipment to monitor polydipsia. They can easily test their own blood sugar levels when they are thirsty to determine whether glucose levels are going too high.
For those who do not have diabetes, polydipsia can be a strong indicator that you should see a doctor about the possibility of having diabetes.
Recognizing Symptoms of Polydipsia
If you suffer with Diabetes mellitus, you’ve probably already become familiar with polydipsia, whether you wanted to or not! However, you may not always notice the problem when it starts. Here are a few ways to tell if you may have polydipsia:
- Persistent and unexplained thirst that does not disappear after drinking hydrating fluids, such as water.
- Urinating more than 5 liters of fluid per day
- Temporary or prolonged dryness of the mouth
- Experiencing increased thirst for several days in a row
If you or a loved one has diabetes, or suspects they may have diabetes, pay close attention to thirst and urination patterns. Polydipsia isn’t necessarily life threatening on its own, but leaving other symptoms of diabetes untreated is incredibly destructive to the body. Be aware of why your body is giving you the signals for increased thirst, as it may be the onset of polydipsia.