Yeast Infection (in Women And Men)
Vaginal yeast infection facts Most vaginal yeast infections are caused by the organism Candida albicans. Yeast infections are very common and affect up to 75% of women at some point in their lifetime. The main symptom of a vaginal yeast infection is itching, but burning, discharge, and pain with urination or intercourse can also occur. Treatment involves topical or oral antifungal medications. It is possible for a woman to transmit a yeast infection to a male sex partner, even though yeast infection is not considered to be a true sexually-transmitted disease (STD) because it can occur in women who are not sexually active. Treatment of yeast infection in men, like in women, involves antifungal medications. Keeping the vaginal area dry and avoiding irritating chemicals can help prevent yeast infections in women. Consuming foods with probiotics also may help. The symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection are similar among affected women, however, they are not all specific. Some women may experience symptoms of yeast infection such as: Pain during sexual intercourse Pain or burning with urination Vaginal discharge (whitish-gray, thick, and a consistency similar to cottage cheese) What is a vaginal yeast infection? A vaginal yeast infection is an infection caused by yeast (a type of fungus). Vaginal yeast infection is sometimes referred to as yeast vaginitis, Candidal vaginitis, or Candidal vulvovaginitis. The scientific name for the yeast that causes vaginitis is Candida. Over 90% of vaginal yeast infections are caused by the species known as Candida albicans. Other Candida species make up the remainder of yeast infections. Candida species can be present in healthy women in the vagina without causing any symptoms. In fact, it is estimated that 20% to 50% of women have Candida a Continue reading >>
Another Yeast Infection?
Jewels Doskicz is a registered nurse, freelance writer, patient advocate, health coach, and long-distance cyclist. Jewels is the moderator of Diabetic Connect’s weekly #DCDE Twitter chat, and she and her daughter both live healthfully with type 1 diabetes. I’ve never met anyone that likes to talk about problems they’re experiencing below the waist—except for maybe comedienne Amy Schumer. And yeast infections in particular are uncomfortable, embarrassing, and downright frustrating to treat. Seventy-five percent of women with diabetes will experience a yeast infection in their lifetime, while up to 45 percent will experience recurrent (or more than one) yeast infection. That amounts to a large subset of women who are plagued, at times, by a single or perhaps unrelenting yeast infection. “Diabetes is a proven predisposing factor,” often resulting in an imbalance in the micro-system within the vagina. And research indicates that high blood sugars are to blame for this irritating issue. Yeast, unfortunately thrives in a sugary environment. That may boil down to a fungal infection when blood sugars are elevated, because extra glucose is also found in genital tissues—it’s not just found in your finger sticks. Signs and symptoms of a yeast infection 1. Itching, burning, and inflammation of your Southern parts. 2. Thick, white, odorless vaginal discharge. Been prescribed antibiotics lately? It doesn’t take diabetes to get a yeast infection while taking antibiotics, but it complicates the picture. If an illness requires antibiotics, blood sugars are typically elevated to begin with due to the infection, which makes us more susceptible to a yeast infection. Keep your eyes out and consider a preventive therapy as well, such as eating more yogurt. Not everyone will Continue reading >>
Just Itching To Share The News
So I get this e-mail from Web Editor Tara Dairman one day asking me if I’ve ever had any experience with diabetes-related yeast infections and would I like to blog about it. "You want me," I zapped back, "to tell the world about my itchy hooha?" I thought about it and, in the spirit of being up-front about what it’s like to live with diabetes, decided to go for it. If any one thing causes me to try and keep my blood glucose under control, it’s to avoid yeast infections which, for about a three-year period back in the day, would absolutely not go away. I itched. I burned. I wriggled and scratched. I wished sandpaper was absorbent and came in a roll. I treated and treated and treated with over-the-counter creams that were formerly available only by prescription. I applied a cream that a doctor prescribed for me. It soothed the itch, but didn’t cure the infection. It wasn’t until I switched to a female doctor that I finally got somebody who really understood what I was going through. It was a time when Diflucan (fluconazole) was new and the general wisdom was that you need only take one pill, and voila! Not with diabetes, you don’t. Yeast loves sugar, and I was very sweet in those days. The doc prescribed two pills and a prescription vaginal cream. It took two courses of that for the yeast infection to go away. And stop snickering, guys: You can get diabetes-related yeast infections, too. In fact, I know of one man who was diagnosed with diabetes when his “little friend,” as he called it, got a red, itchy rash that wouldn’t go away. Now comes news from a study in India that, in women with diabetes, a 14-day course of using boric acid vaginal suppositories is better at clearing up yeast infections than one Diflucan tablet. (Heck, I coulda told ’em that o Continue reading >>
Diabetes Causes Thrush
Diabetes, especially uncontrolled diabetes, increases the risk of multiple complications, including infections of oral thrush. Although oral thrush is a relatively common and mostly harmless yeast infection, the combination of thrush and diabetes can cause serious complications. An Overview of Diabetes Diabetes mellitus, or diabetes, impairs the body’s ability to control levels of glucose, the sugar converted by body cells into energy. Consequently, blood sugar levels can rise to dangerously high levels. There are two varieties of diabetes, both of which increase the risk of oral yeast infections. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas loses the ability to manufacture insulin, the hormone that controls blood levels of glucose. Type 1 diabetes onset usually occurs in childhood or adolescence. Type 2 diabetes is the most common variety of diabetes. The pancreas produces insulin in cases of type 2 diabetes, but one of two complications occurs: the body loses the ability to use insulin properly the pancreas produces insufficient insulin. Type 2 diabetes is also called adult onset diabetes, as the condition usually develops in adults. Changes in dietary habits and an increase in obesity have seen a rise of type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents, however. Thrush and Yeast Infections Thrush is the common name for yeast infections caused by the microorganism Candida albicans. Candida albicans is a common microorganism that is found on the mouth, digestive tract and skin of most people. Under normal circumstances, the body’s immune system keeps Candida albicans growth under control. Under certain circumstances, Candida growth can outpace the body’s ability to control the organism and yeast infections occur. Oral thrush and vaginal yeast infections are common yeast i Continue reading >>
Type 1 Diabetes: What Are The Symptoms?
What Is Type 1 Diabetes (Juvenile)? Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition that usually starts in childhood, but can occur in adults (30 to 40-year-olds). In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas produces very little insulin. Insulin helps cells in the body convert sugar into energy. When the pancreas cannot make enough insulin, sugar starts to build up in the blood, causing life-threatening complications. Individuals with type 1 diabetes must take some form of insulin for the rest of their lives. Unusual Thirst Symptoms Unusual thirst is a very common symptom of type 1 diabetes. This condition causes the kidneys to remove excess sugar in the blood by getting rid of more water. The water is removed through urinating, causing dehydration and dehydration causes you to drink more water. Weight Loss Symptoms Patient with type 1 diabetes develop unintentional weight loss and an increase in appetite because blood sugar levels remain high and the body metabolizes fat for energy. Disrupted glucose metabolism also causes patient to feel a lack of energy and drowsy for extended periods Excess urination also cause weight loss because many calories are leaving the body in urine. Skin Problems Symptoms The disruption in glucose metabolism in patient with type 1 diabetes causes skin changes. Type 1 diabetics are at a higher risk for bacterial infections and fungal infections. Poor blood circulation in the skin may also occur. Patient with type 1 diabetes are often infected with fungal infections caused by the yeast Candida albicans. Common fungal infections include athlete's foot, vaginal yeast infection in women, jock itch, ringworm, and diaper rashes in babies. Diaper rash caused by the yeast Candida albicans can spread to other areas of the body such as the stomach and legs. Other Dangero Continue reading >>
Yeast Infections And Diabetes
People with diabetes whose blood sugar is not well controlled are at higher risk of developing infections because the body is less able to defend itself against germs. These includes yeast and fungal infections. Causes In addition to diabetes, you could be more susceptible to these kinds of infection if: You take oral contraceptives You are pregnant You take antibiotics You have a new sexual partner You have sex more than once a day Symptoms for women Itchiness in the external genitals More abundant, thicker, yellowish-white vaginal discharge Pain while urinating and during sex Redness of the vulva Symptoms for men Redness on the end of the penis Itchiness of the genitals Red patches on the head of the penis (glans) If you have one or more of these symptoms, it is important to consult your doctor or talk to your pharmacist. If a medication is prescribed, be sure to take it to the end of the treatment period even if the symptoms disappear earlier. Prevention As for all types of infection in person with diabetes, it is crucial to properly control your blood glucose (sugar) levels. Wash your hands often. Wash your genitals every day and dry the genital area thoroughly after swimming, showering or bathing. Quit smoking if you are a smoker. Treatment There are effective non-prescription treatments for yeast infections, in the form of tablets and creams. In addition to taking these medications, improving your blood sugar control is essential for ridding yourself of this kind of infection. It is important to follow the treatment to the end even if the symptoms disappear earlier. During treatment, wear natural fibres, avoid vaginal douching and use condoms during sex. Research and text: Diabetes Québec Team of Health Care Professionals Scientific review: Serge Goulet, Family P Continue reading >>
Diabetes And Yeast Infections: What You Need To Know
Yeast lives naturally in our bodies. However, if it begins to overgrow and become a yeast infection, it may cause problems. Yeast can be found in the skin and near mucous membranes and helps to keep neighboring bacteria in check. A buildup of yeast is called a yeast infection and can cause pain, itchiness, and discomfort. In this article, we explore the causes, symptoms, and possible treatments for yeast infections. Contents of this article: Overview Yeast thrives in warm moist areas so yeast infections can occur in several places: the mouth the genitals beneath the breasts under folds of skin Out of these, vaginal yeast infections are the most common. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 75 percent of women will have had a vaginal yeast infection at least once in their lives. How diabetes and yeast infections are linked People with poorly-controlled diabetes are at a higher risk of more severe and frequent yeast infections. Researchers are still trying to understand completely how diabetes is linked to yeast overgrowth. However, there is evidence of several possibilities: Extra sugars in yeast-friendly areas When blood glucose levels are high, extra sugars may be secreted in: mucus sweat urine As yeast feeds on sugar, these secretions are the most obvious culprits for overgrowth. Increased levels of glycogen, a polysaccharide used to store glucose, also occur with diabetes. Extra glycogen in the vaginal area can lead to a decrease in pH, which aids yeast growth. A study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology provides evidence for this, using female diabetic rats. Compromised immune system Poorly-controlled diabetes has been shown to hinder the immune response. This could be part of the reason why someone with diabetes might h Continue reading >>
Signs & Symptoms Of Systemic Yeast Infection
Systemic yeast infections can affect men, women and children. Signs and symptoms can be both external and internal. Systemic yeast usually starts with an overgrowth of candida albicans, a yeast-like fungus that lives naturally in the digestive tract and colon. This condition is called candidiasis, which is a yeast infection. This excess systemic yeast can stem from taking too many antibiotics or birth control bills, an overuse of corticosteroids, poor diet or food allergies, chlorinated water and even air pollution. Most people experience symptoms at some point, especially if the candida overgrowth has been building up in the large intestines over an extended period of time. Skin Rash or Irritation One symptom of systemic yeast infection is a skin rash or irritation. These rashes can appear anywhere on the body. Some common locations for babies include around the mouth and diaper area. Adults can have these rashes or irritations on their face, on the scalp, under the breast, in the lower abdominal region, beneath skin folds and inside their toenails. Many people treat external symptoms with nystatin creams when the underlying problem is more systemic in nature. Genital Itching and Irritation Women sometimes get vaginal yeast infections. One symptom of this type of infection is a thick white or yellowish discharge that looks like cottage cheese. Burning and itching is another symptom. There may also be a starchy odor. Women with vaginal yeast infections often have burning when they urinate. Unlike urinary tract infections, this burning sensation is usually felt as the urine exits the body. Men can get yeast infections on their penis or scrotum. A rash with little red bumps may indicate a yeast infection. Men can have severe itching and burning with this type of infection Continue reading >>
What You Can Do About Diabetes-related Fungal Infections
(NewsTarget) Diabetes mellitus is a metabolism-related disorder that results in elevated levels of blood sugar. There are three main types of diabetes -- Type I, Type II and gestational. Diabetes is caused by the decreased production of insulin by the pancreas or inadequate use of produced insulin. The risk factors for diabetes mellitus can be particularly high if you are prone to a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, premature aging, unhealthy diet, family history of diabetes, improper functioning of the pancreas, minority race, stress, certain medications including cortisone and drugs for hypertension, and previously diagnosed gestational diabetes. Some common symptoms of Type I diabetes are frequent urination, extreme hunger, increased thirst, extreme fatigue, unexplained weight loss, irritability, blurred vision, nausea and vomiting. Type II diabetes can be identified by symptoms like constant craving of sugars, frequent urination, sudden weight loss, unusual drowsiness, tingling or numbness in the feet, cramping, dry itchy skin, frequent skin or vaginal infections and slow-healing sores. What are the complications? Diabetes can affect almost all body parts including eyes, kidneys, feet, joints, nerves, heart and skin. Chronic diabetes can give rise to several life-threatening complications such as increased risk of developing bone and joint disease, stroke, nervous system disorder, infection of the respiratory system, kidney disease, hypertension, heart disease and visual impairment and loss of digits or limbs. Other long-term complications arising from diabetes are: * Digestive problems * Skin problems * Sexual dysfunction * Tooth and gum disease Diabetes may remain unnoticed for many years until these complications manifest themselves. That is why diabetes is known as Continue reading >>
What You Should Know About Diet And Yeast Infections
It’s not really a topic that anyone likes to spend much time thinking about, but yeast infections are incredibly common – up to 75% of women will get at least one yeast infection in their life, and 5-8% have chronically recurring symptoms (4 or more infections every year). To put it mildly, yeast infections are unpleasant and most people would rather avoid them. More seriously, getting a yeast infection often means taking antifungal or antimicrobial drugs, which can rebound on the gut microbiome in various different ways. Since healthy gut flora is so important for good overall health, it’s just prudent to minimize the number of times in your life you have to drop a firebomb on it. All kinds of factors can influence a particular woman’s susceptibility to yeast infections. For example, pregnant women get them more often. Oral contraceptives are a risk factor. For whatever reason, Black women get them more often. It has nothing to do with hygiene or cleanliness, and it’s not a sign of “dirtiness.” But it is sometimes influenced by diet in various different ways, so here’s what the research says about ways that diet can raise – or lower – the risk of a yeast infection. What Are Yeast Infections? Yeast infections are caused by the fungus Candida albicans – yes, that candida. Candida can get into the vagina via transfer from the anus, but there’s no clear relationship between Candida in the gut and yeast infections. Just a quick note: some alternative medicine practitioners believe chronic, subclinical infection with Candida albicans can cause all kinds of diseases and symptoms – this is what people usually mean when they talk about “candida.” Candida in that sense is a serious bone of contention because there’s no consensus about whether or n Continue reading >>
Why Pregnant Women Are More Prone To Yeast Infections And Gestational Diabetes
Print Friendly The real reason why pregnant women get yeast infections (or any woman for that matter) isn’t really talked about or widely known in laymen’s terms. The same reasons are what also contributes to pregnant women getting gestational diabetes. When I’ve asked the Internet to tell me about this topic, every single blog, website, and article seems to regurgitate the same simplistic information, but I am sick of treating the symptoms of yeast infections during pregnancy without really knowing WHY, and so I set out to find the root cause, and this is what I found. The real reason why pregnant women get yeast infections has to do with these two main factors: The increase in estrogen while pregnant (which also occurs during menstruation, from oral contraceptives, and through hormone replacement therapy) leads to an increase in glycogen, which is supposed to “feed” the lactobacilli that reside in a healthy vagina, but if no lactobacilli are present (thanks to antibiotics for one or just poor gut flora for another) and candida is present, the candida will grow unchecked until there is an overgrowth, hence creating a yeast infection. Human Placental Lactogen hormone (hPL), which is produced by the placenta in increasing amounts until the 23rd week when it plateaus, shuttles incoming glucose to the baby, meanwhile leaving the mother hungry so she reaches for more and more “glucose” which creates higher and higher blood sugar that can lead to insulin resistance and gestational diabetes at an accelerated rate, and this high blood sugar paves the way for candida growth and yeast infections. So basically, when pregnant women have poor gut flora and continue to eat large amounts of sugar, it sets up an environment that is the “perfect storm” for yeast infec Continue reading >>
Reoccurring & Chronic Yeast Infections? 10 Causes Of Thrush
Vaginal thrush, or a yeast infection, is one of those things that you can refer to, sarcastically, as "part of the joy of being a woman". They're incredibly common, with up to 75 percent of women experiencing a yeast infection at least once over a lifetime, which means that you're likely familiar with them and their cause: an overgrowth of the fungus candida albicans in the vagina, causing thick white discharge, pain, sensitivity, and redness. It's not particularly pleasant. But if you seem to be getting reoccurring, chronic yeast infections, there may be something less obvious at work, from an immunodeficiency to an estrogen shift to a recent sexual partner with the same issue. They're common, but that doesn't mean they aren't complex or, in some cases, a bit mysterious. If you have what's called recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVCC), or yeast infections that occur four or more times in a year, you may have hope on the horizon; a vaccine is currently in clinical trials to test whether it's more effective than a placebo in preventing RVVC. And while we're still in a world where one's tendency to get chronic yeast infections can't be cured, it's important to look at the potential causes of them. Plus, you may not even have a yeast infection at all; other things can masquerade as thrush but not actually have the same diagnosis. So here are 10 potential causes of reoccurring yeast infections. I'm sorry, and I hope you get a hold of some decent medication and loose pants as soon as possible. 1. You're Pregnant Carrying around a bundle of joy may not necessarily be fun if you're also prone to yeast infections during your pregnancy, but you can be (slightly) comforted by the fact that it's common. Pregnancy often prompts an uptick in candida albicans in the vagina, becaus Continue reading >>
Diseases Of The Urinary System
In the last two newsletters, we explored both the anatomy of the urinary system and the physiology of the urinary system. In this issue, we'll examine what can go wrong. My intent here is not to explore the details of diseases of the urinary system, but rather, to explore their actual impact on the system. Why? Quite simply, if we understand what degrades the tissue and functions of the different parts of the urinary system, we have a chance to do something about it -- to either prevent those things from happening in the first place, or reverse them after the fact -- rather than merely managing symptoms. In other words, I intend to explore the diseases of the urinary system from the alternative health perspective that disease is the final manifestation of a series of events and choices rather than the medical perspective that disease is an isolated event unto itself. (Note: although kidney and bladder cancer kill some 28,000 people a year in the US,1,2 we will not discuss them at this time but save them for a future discussion when we explore the anatomy and physiology of cancer itself.) With the above perspective in mind, we're now going to examine the relationship of the following disease states to the urinary system: Diabetes High blood pressure Low blood pressure Infection (bacterial and yeast) Interstitial cystitis Kidney stones Kidney Sludge Diabetes Diabetes is not a disease of the kidneys; but as we discussed in our exploration of the endocrine system, it is a disease of the pancreas. But that said, diabetes nevertheless has a huge impact on the health of your kidneys. The basics in terms of diabetes and the kidneys are simple. As we explained last newsletter, any excretion of glucose in the urine is abnormal. As a result of a simple filtration process, 100% of Continue reading >>
Ask The Diabetes Team
Question: From Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA: Two months prior to diagnosis, my three year old presented with a yeast infection, and I was convinced that there was a secondary reason to the cause, but this was never considered. She was potty trained and had never had an antibiotic, yet the yeast infection was severe and recurring. Her A1c was 17.7% at diagnosis, which I believe indicates that she obviously had diabetes when the yeast infection started to occur, and shortly after insulin was started, it completely resolved. My son has prediabetes, and, when his blood glucose is elevated, he too gets a yeast infection. With these most vulnerable victims of diabetes, I do not understand why it is not recognized and emphasized in the diagnosis criteria for children. This is basic stuff and could change the level of decompensation that infants, toddlers, and young children are in before diagnosis. Ruling out diabetes in yeast infections would be cost effective as it would prevent in some cases long stays in hospitals. I personally have spoken with many parents throughout the world regarding this issue. Many parents responded that their infants, toddlers, and young children presented with yeast infections, and this included male children some with a yeast infection from the shoulders to knees. Often, the most vulnerable are in critical condition before diabetes is suspected. Why isn't a yeast infection strongly emphasized as a recognized symptom of diabetes to those caring for children? Answer: I can understand your frustration over the delay in recognising a yeast infection as a sign of diabetes in your three year old daughter. In fact, yeast infections are rather uncommon as a presenting sign of type 1A (autoimmune) diabetes. I am sure that with an initial hemoglobin A1c Continue reading >>
Gestational Diabetes Symptoms – 4 You Need To Know
Gestational diabetes (GD) is a metabolic condition which occurs during pregnancy. It's important to know what the gestational diabetes symptoms are, because it can impact your birth and your newborn. Like other types of diabetes, GD affects your insulin and blood sugar levels. Unlike other forms of diabetes, GD is a temporary condition that occurs only during pregnancy, and you can expect a complete recovery with, or shortly after, the birth of your baby. Having GD, however, increases your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, which is a chronic condition. In some areas, GD screening is a routine component of pregnancy care. Early prenatal bloodwork checks your glucose and A1C levels to see whether you might already be at risk for GD. It’s possible, though rare, to develop GD early in pregnancy. Depending on your maternity care provider and location, a routine GD screening is also performed at around 28 weeks of pregnancy. You consume a large amount of glucose and then your blood is tested to see how your body responds. If you don't pass this test, a longer test is performed. If you fail the longer test, you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes. In other places, GD testing is not done routinely. Only those at risk, or with gestational diabetes symptoms, take a glucose test. Gestational Diabetes Symptoms Regardless of your type of care, early detection and management of gestational diabetes is necessary for a healthy pregnancy and birth. Many women can have gestational diabetes without symptoms, which is why routine screening exists. But some women will experience a range of symptoms, which should be reported to their care provider. Here are four gestational diabetes symptoms to be aware of: Gestational Diabetes Symptom #1: Excessive Thirst During pregnancy, your appe Continue reading >>
