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 >>
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 >>
Could You Have Diabetes? 5 Hidden Symptoms Of Diabetes That Could Mean You're Suffering
Thought the only sign of being diabetic is being overweight? Think again... Around 3.7 million people in the UK have diabetes, yet according to Diabetes UK, around 590,000 suffer - but they don't even know about it. And while diabetes - a lifelong condition - can be successfully managed once it’s diagnosed, delaying that diagnosis puts people at risk of serious complications, including amputation and blindness. This is a key concern for Type 2 diabetes, the type associated with weight which accounts for around 90% of all cases. Type 2 occurs when the body can no longer make enough insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas which enables us to use sugar/glucose), or the insulin being produced isn’t doing its job properly. Type 1, on the other hand, has absolutely nothing to do with weight or lifestyle and tends to develop during childhood when a fault in the body causes insulin-producing cells to be destroyed. “The symptoms of Type 1 and Type 2 are very similar, however they tend to come on a lot quicker in Type 1, and you can end up very poorly and in hospital if not diagnosed straight away,” says Diabetes UK clinical advisor Libby Dowling. “Type 2 is a little different. A lot of people put the symptoms of Type 2 down to getting older, and the condition can sometimes go undiagnosed for up to 10 years, by which time complications could have started to develop.” [Read more: Diabetes Type 1 and Type 2 - Do you know the difference?] But, aside from increased thirst, needing to be more and tiredness, what are those symptoms? Play Video Play Mute Current Time 0:00 / Duration Time 0:00 Loaded: 0% 0:00 Progress: 0% 0:00 Progress: 0% Stream TypeLIVE Remaining Time -0:00 Playback Rate 1 Chapters Chapters descriptions off, selected Descriptions subtitles off, selected 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 >>
The 7 Most Common Causes Of Candida
What triggered your Candida? Was it your diet, a course of antibiotics, or a prolonged period of stress? The causes of Candida include a high sugar diet, antibiotics, chronic stress, the contraceptive pill, chemical exposure, and diabetes. Usually, two or more of these triggers are to blame. For example, a diet full of inflammatory foods and sugars is more likely to cause a Candida overgrowth when combined with a course of antibiotics. It’s important to realize that most people have Candida albicans in their digestive tract already. It is a microorganism that is naturally present in your gut, part of the balanced system that helps you to digest food and stay fit and well. When people talk about Candida, they are really talking about the excess growth of Candida. So if it’s not something that you ‘catch’ like a virus, what causes it? Candida Related Complex is still in the early stages of being recognized by the medical community, but there has been a surprising amount of research conducted into this illness. The consensus is leaning towards a handful of medical and lifestyle factors that seem to be triggers for a Candida overgrowth. Here are the most common Candida causes: Are you are suffering from multiple Candida symptoms and looking to get your health back? Here are a few of the things that might be causing your health problems. A High-Sugar Diet The modern diet provides huge amounts of the sugar that Candida albicans needs to survive and thrive. That includes sugar itself, foods containing sugar, and also anything that converts to sugar. Refined carbohydrates, like white flour, and even fruits can all contribute to Candida overgrowth. Organisms like Candida albicans need organic, carbon-based compounds to provide them with energy. In practice this means sug Continue reading >>
Thrush And Balanitis
When you have type 1 diabetes, you're more likely to suffer from thrush and balanitis Thrush is a yeast infection caused by excessive growth of a fungus (known as candida albicans) which lives on and in the body. Although more common in women, men can also get thrush orally and on the penis and outbreaks could be caused by high blood glucose levels. Symptoms of oral thrush include redness and white spots coating the surface of the tongue. Symptoms of penile thrush include inflammation of the head of the penis. This inflammation is often referred to as balanitis. In this condition the head of the penis becomes red and sore. Irritation and itching are also common. Small red spots may appear and a penile discharge can occur. Antibiotics and some asthma inhalers can also increase the risk of infection. Your pharmacist can provide over-the-counter remedies to treat both oral and penile thrush. Your partner should also be treated to prevent reinfection. However, if the infection persists, you should see your GP for further advice. Continue reading >>
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What Causes Fever In People With Diabetes?
Fever is often a sign of infection somewhere in the body. It is an important immune system function that sometimes serves to kill the invading organism. People with diabetes are prone to several types of infection. It is important for a person with diabetes to seek treatment for infection or a chronic fever of unknown origin, as an acute illness can make diabetes more difficult to manage. Video of the Day The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals notes that people with diabetes have an increased risk for urinary tract infections. The severity of this type of infection is often worse in people with diabetes than that found in a person without diabetes. Often, a urinary tract infection affects the bladder, a condition called cystitis. A low-grade fever may develop with cystitis and other urinary tract infections. Treatment typically consists of oral antibiotics. Merck indicates that a person with diabetes may need a longer course of treatment. Thrush is a yeast infection that occurs in moist areas of the body, such as the mouth. MedlinePlus, a website maintained by the National Institutes of Health, indicates that a person with diabetes is at increased risk of getting thrush in the mouth because elevated glucose levels in saliva serve as food for the yeast. Oral thrush may cause a low-grade fever, explains the text, "Medical-Surgical Nursing." A prescription anti-fungal mouth rinse or lozenge is often prescribed to treat oral thrush. Foot problems are a serious concern for people with diabetes. They can easily develop because of a combination of poor circulation and nerve damage that allows a minor problem to become worse. Foot ulcers can easily become infected, characterized by redness, foul-smelling drainage or dead tissue. A fever may be present, but sometimes a di Continue reading >>
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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 >>
What Is Thrush?
Amputations. INVOKANA® may increase your risk of lower-limb amputations. Amputations mainly involve removal of the toe or part of the foot; however, amputations involving the leg, below and above the knee, have also occurred. Some people had more than one amputation, some on both sides of the body. You may be at a higher risk of lower-limb amputation if you: have a history of amputation, have heart disease or are at risk for heart disease, have had blocked or narrowed blood vessels (usually in leg), have damage to the nerves (neuropathy) in the leg, or have had diabetic foot ulcers or sores. Call your doctor right away if you have new pain or tenderness, any sores, ulcers, or infections in your leg or foot. Your doctor may decide to stop your INVOKANA®. Talk to your doctor about proper foot care Dehydration. INVOKANA® can cause some people to become dehydrated (the loss of too much body water), which may cause you to feel dizzy, faint, lightheaded, or weak, especially when you stand up (orthostatic hypotension). You may be at higher risk of dehydration if you have low blood pressure, take medicines to lower your blood pressure (including diuretics [water pills]), are on a low sodium (salt) diet, have kidney problems, or are 65 years of age or older Talk to your doctor about what to do if you get symptoms of a yeast infection of the vagina or penis. have severe kidney problems or are on dialysis Before you take INVOKANA®, tell your doctor if you have a history of amputation; heart disease or are at risk for heart disease; blocked or narrowed blood vessels (usually in leg); damage to the nerves (neuropathy) of your leg; diabetic foot ulcers or sores; kidney problems; liver problems; history of urinary tract infections or problems with urination; are on a low sodium (s Continue reading >>
7. Long Course Of Suppository Medication Most Effective If You Have Yeast Infections With Diabetes
People who are diabetic experience spikes in blood sugar. Sugar is a favorite food of different types of yeast. This includes candida. Mix the two together and you have a yeast overgrowth. And since vaginal yeast infection is said to have occurred when there is an overgrowth of yeast, this makes diabetes one of those conditions that increase the risks of a candida yeast infections -- oral, vaginal and any other. The first was that diabetic women were more prone to candida yeast infections as opposed to non-diabetic women (18.8% vs. 11.8%). The second finding was that women with diabetes had a higher risk of displaying yeast infection symptoms when compared to those who didn't have diabetes. The third finding was that when using fluconazole ( a vaginal yeast infection treatment), the diabetic group had a lower cure rate (75%, although this is still good) than those who didn’t have diabetes (86.7%). This was a study that was published in the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. You can find more details of the study here. According to Heathline, since high blood sugar levels encourage yeast infections, the best way treat the yeast infection is to take away the thing that is feeding it -- high blood sugar. Better management of diabetes is therefore a must if you want to keep yeast infections at bay. Treatment will also be easier as whichever medication you will be using will be fighting against a yeast-starved fungi ( candida, the yeast that causes most cases of vaginal yeast infections is a fungus). Do you have a yeast infection that keeps coming back? If your infection simply won’t go away, your diabetes might be to blame. It all has to do with the environment that your body creates. A healthy vagina can have yeast cells without causing any Continue reading >>
I’m Pregnant And I Keep Getting Thrush. Is This Normal?
Getting thrush in pregnancy is a very common problem, and it can be a real nuisance if it keeps coming back. During pregnancy, levels of the hormone oestrogen rise, which help thrush to thrive. It also makes it more difficult to get rid of and more likely to recur. If you’re getting frequent bouts of thrush, see your GP. You may need a longer course of treatment, or a different treatment. Bear in mind that it’s normal to have more vaginal discharge than usual in pregnancy. This can be easy to confuse with thrush. If you do have thrush, the discharge will be thick and white in consistency, and look a bit like cottage cheese. You may feel itchy around your vagina and sore when you wee, or during sex. If you’re not sure what’s normal, see your GP or midwife for reassurance. Having recurrent thrush when you’re pregnant can be a sign of gestational diabetes, which is when you have too much sugar in your blood. High blood sugar levels can create the right environment for thrush to thrive. If your GP or midwife is concerned that your thrush is associated with gestational diabetes, she’ll suggest a test to find out. This test is called the glucose tolerance test, and it checks how your body regulates your sugar levels. If your thrush is caused by gestational diabetes, it should get better once your blood sugar levels are controlled. In the meantime, you could try these self-help remedies in addition to the thrush treatment: Apply an emollient moisturiser to the inflamed area. Eat natural live yoghurt, as it may help to restore the proper bacterial balance in your vagina. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after having contact with your vagina, and wipe from front to back after going to the loo. Wear silk or cotton underwear and loose clothes, and avoid wearing ti Continue reading >>
Oral Thrush In Adults
Introduction Oral thrush is a fungal infection of the mouth. It is not contagious and is usually successfully treated with antifungal medication. It is also called oral candidosis (or candiasis) because it is caused by a group of yeasts called Candida. Symptoms of oral thrush can include: white patches (plaques) in the mouth that can often be wiped off, leaving behind red areas that may bleed slightly loss of taste or an unpleasant taste in the mouth redness inside the mouth and throat cracks at the corners of the mouth a painful, burning sensation in the mouth In some cases, the symptoms of oral thrush can make eating and drinking difficult. When to seek medical advice Speak to your GP if you develop symptoms of oral thrush. If left untreated, the symptoms will often persist and your mouth will continue to feel uncomfortable. In severe cases that are left untreated, there is also a risk of the infection spreading further into your body, which can be serious. Your GP will usually be able to diagnose oral thrush simply by examining your mouth. Sometimes they may also recommend blood tests to look for certain conditions associated with oral thrush, such as diabetes and nutritional deficiencies. What causes oral thrush? Low numbers of the fungus Candida are naturally found in the mouth and digestive system of most people. They don't usually cause any problems, but can lead to oral thrush if they multiply. There are a number of reasons why this may happen, including: taking a course of antibiotics, particularly over a long period or at a high dose wearing dentures (false teeth), particularly if they don't fit properly having poor oral hygiene having a dry mouth, either because of a medical condition or a medication you are taking smoking Babies, young children and elderly p Continue reading >>
How To Recognize, Avoid And Treat Oral Thrush
Oral thrush is an infection that develops inside the mouth and on the tongue. This yeast infection is also known as oropharyngeal candidiasis. What causes it is the Candida albicans fungus which develops inside the mouth and can’t be controlled. Moreover, it may appear in toddlers and infants if they have white bumps on the inside of their mouth. However, it can easily be treated. This complication is not a serious infection, but it can cause problems for people who have a weak immune system. So, before you decide whether you or your child have oral thrush, read more about the symptoms below. Symptoms of Oral Thrush Adults: pain at the site of the bumps white bumps on the inner cheeks, tongue, tonsils, or gums cracked and dry skin on the edges of your mouth problems with swallowing slight bleeding when you scrape the bumps Infants: fussiness irritability difficulty feeding However, if you are breastfeeding, your baby has a chance to transfer the infection to you, and the cycle will keep repeating itself. So, if your breasts are infected, here are the symptoms that the fungus can cause: severe pain during breastfeeding strong sensitivity, itching, or pain in the nipples sharp pain in the breast flaky or shiny skin around the nipple What Can Cause Oral Thrush? When the fungus known as C. albicans is uncontrollable, this infection appears. Usually, the immune system can avoid this and prevent many other microorganisms from creating problems, but when the immune system is in bad shape, it won’t defend the body properly. Moreover, many treatments like radiation and chemotherapy can weaken the immune system and make it defenseless against oral thrush. Plus, diseases like AIDS, diabetes, leukemia, and HIV can also cause the same problem. When it comes to infants, they usua Continue reading >>
Oral Thrush
Overview Oral thrush — also called oral candidiasis (kan-dih-DIE-uh-sis) — is a condition in which the fungus Candida albicans accumulates on the lining of your mouth. Candida is a normal organism in your mouth, but sometimes it can overgrow and cause symptoms. Oral thrush causes creamy white lesions, usually on your tongue or inner cheeks. Sometimes oral thrush may spread to the roof of your mouth, your gums or tonsils, or the back of your throat. Although oral thrush can affect anyone, it's more likely to occur in babies and older adults because they have reduced immunity; in other people with suppressed immune systems or certain health conditions; or people who take certain medications. Oral thrush is a minor problem if you're healthy, but if you have a weakened immune system, symptoms may be more severe and difficult to control. Symptoms Children and adults Initially, you may not even notice symptoms of oral thrush. Signs and symptoms may include: Creamy white lesions on your tongue, inner cheeks, and sometimes on the roof of your mouth, gums and tonsils Slightly raised lesions with a cottage cheese-like appearance Redness, burning or soreness that may be severe enough to cause difficulty eating or swallowing Slight bleeding if the lesions are rubbed or scraped Cracking and redness at the corners of your mouth A cottony feeling in your mouth Loss of taste Redness, irritation and pain under dentures (denture stomatitis) In severe cases, usually related to cancer or a weakened immune system from HIV/AIDS, the lesions may spread downward into your esophagus — the long, muscular tube stretching from the back of your mouth to your stomach (Candida esophagitis). If this occurs, you may experience difficulty swallowing and pain or feel as if food is getting stuck in Continue reading >>
Diabetes Symptoms You Can’t Afford To Ignore & What You Can Do About Them
In the U.S., diabetes — or diabetes mellitus (DM) — is full-blown epidemic, and that’s not hyperbole. An estimated 29 million Americans have some form of diabetes, nearly 10 percent of the population, and even more alarming, the average American has a one in three chance of developing diabetes symptoms at some point in his or her lifetime. (1) The statistics are alarming, and they get even worse. Another 86 million people have prediabetes, with up to 30 percent of them developing type 2 diabetes within five years. And perhaps the most concerning, about a third of people who have diabetes — approximately 8 million adults — are believed to be undiagnosed and unaware. That’s why it’s so vital to understand and recognize diabetes symptoms. And there’s actually good news. While there’s technically no known “cure” for diabetes — whether it’s type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes — there’s plenty that can be done to help reverse diabetes naturally, control diabetes symptoms and prevent diabetes complications. The Most Common Diabetes Symptoms Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that results from problems controlling the hormone insulin. Diabetes symptoms are a result of higher-than-normal levels of glucose (sugar) in your blood. With type 1 diabetes, symptoms usually develop sooner and at a younger age than with type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes also normally causes more severe symptoms. In fact, because type 2 diabetes signs and symptoms can be minimal in some cases, it sometimes can go diagnosed for a long period of time, causing the problem to worsen and long-term damage to develop. While it’s still not entirely known how this happens, prolonged exposure to high blood sugar can damage nerve fibers that affect the blood vessels, heart, e Continue reading >>
