Not a fun topic, but an important one, and a good reason to manage your blood glucose level: people with diabetes have a higher chance of developing urinary tract infections (UTIs). If you’ve had one in the past, you know they are not fun.
Elevated blood glucose creates a breeding ground for bacteria, and a UTI is a situation where bacteria grows in the urinary tract. Urine is made in the kidneys and then travels through the ureters into the bladder, through the urethra and out of the body. The urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidneys make up the urinary tract.
Symptoms of a UTI include burning when urinating; feeling the need to urinate frequently, but not much comes out; abdominal pain; and cloudy or smelly urine.
Besides being uncomfortable, UTIs, if left untreated, can spread to the kidneys. And kidney infections can be very serious. The best way to prevent a UTI is to drink plenty of water (if your urine is light yellow or clear, you are well hydrated), manage diabetes to keep blood glucose levels in a safe and healthy range, and urinate regularly – do not hold it.
So there you have it!