Thirst can be an early sign that you might have diabetes. Consuming too much sugar causes thirst. However, drinking large quantities of water won’t make your condition any better. Instead, it’ll lead to further dehydration and other health problems like high blood pressure, kidney disease, and other life-threatening complications.
Causes of Excessive Thirst
The thirst that doesn’t seem to go away can be a sign of severe health issues, such as:
- Dehydration: When you don’t have enough fluids, your body can’t function correctly. Dehydration is a severe condition that may be deadly to infants and small kids. Illness, excessive sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea might all cause dehydration.
- Diabetes Mellitus: Excessive thirst might be caused by high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). It’s pretty frequently one of the first diabetes symptoms to appear.
- Diabetes Insipidus: When your body cannot regulate fluids properly, this type of diabetes develops. This results in an imbalance and a loss of water in the body, resulting in frequent urination and thirst.
- Dipsogenic Diabetes Insipidus: Increased thirst and water intake with frequent urination are signs of diabetes insipidus. This condition is caused by a lack of vasopressin, which regulates the kidneys.
- Disorders of the heart and kidneys: These may make it difficult for the body to regulate fluid levels.
- Medications: Many medications can cause a dry mouth, including certain antidepressants or antihistamines found in many cold and allergy medicines. Other things that may make you thirsty include:
- Alcohol or caffeine
- Drugs such as MDMA (“ecstasy”), cocaine, and amphetamines.
- Smoking cigarettes.
- Sepsis: The most common causes of infections are viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues in the body. It’s a severe inflammatory reaction to infection with germs or other microbes that can be fatal if not treated right away.
- Tumors: Rarely, certain tumors may increase thirst because they make the body retain fluids.
- Overuse of diuretics (water pills) can increase your urination and cause a loss of vital fluids from the body. Heart disease might also cause excessive thirst by affecting how the kidneys respond to liquid.
- Problems in the hypothalamus or pituitary gland can have a variety of triggers, including tumors, trauma, surgery, infections, and autoimmune disease. These problems cause the body to produce either too much or too little antidiuretic hormone (ADH). For example, in the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH), the body produces too much ADH, resulting in fluid retention and excessive thirst.
- Infection: A fever, vomiting, or diarrhea can lead to dehydration and excessive thirst.
- Gastrointestinal disorders, such as Crohn’s disease or irritable bowel syndrome.
- Certain cancers, including adrenal or pancreatic cancer.
- Seizures or heatstroke
- Heart, liver, or kidney failure
Diagnosing and Treating Excessive Thirst
Your doctor will want to obtain a detailed medical history, including any prior illnesses, to try and figure out why you have so much unquenchable thirst. Prepare a list of all of your prescription and over-the-counter medicines as well as supplements.
You may be asked the following questions:
- What is the first time you became aware of your symptoms?
- Have you been noticing that you’re peeing more often?
- Have your symptoms been gradual or abrupt in onset?
- Do you have a thirst throughout the day?
- Have you tried to lose weight or make other lifestyle adjustments?
- Have you noticed an increase or decrease in the amount of food you eat?
- Have you gained or lost weight since your last visit?
- Have you recently suffered an accident or been burned?
- Have you noticed any bleeding or swelling?
- Have you had a fever recently?
- Have you been sweating a lot lately?
Your doctor may also order blood and urine tests to assist in diagnosing your condition. These exams might include:
- Blood glucose test
- Blood count and blood differential tests
- Urinalysis, urine osmolality, and urine electrolyte tests
- Serum electrolyte and serum osmolality test
- Alcohol and diabetes can be a fatal combination
Your doctor may recommend that you see a specialist if the test results are inconclusive. The diagnosis will determine the treatment and prognosis.
Must Read: Can Metformin Cause Hypoglycemia?
How Much Fluid Do You Usually Need?
To remain healthy, you must drink water regularly throughout the day. Water-rich foods, such as melons, oranges, and tomatoes can also add to your daily water intake.
Check your urine to see if you’re getting enough fluids. You are probably receiving adequate fluid if your pee is light in color, high in quantity, and has no strong odor.
Every organ, tissue, and cell in your body requires water. Water aids in the function of your body by:
- Maintain a normal temperature
- Lubricate and cushion your joints
- Protect the brain and spinal cord
- Rid your body of waste through perspiration, urination, and bowel movements
You should drink extra water if you:
- Are outdoors in hot weather
- Are engaging in a rigorous activity
- Have diarrhea
- Are vomiting
- Have a fever
Dehydration is usually caused by not drinking enough water or fluids and not responding to your thirst by drinking water.
Risks of Excessive Thirst: Overhydration
Consuming too much water is easy when you try to satisfy an overactive thirst. Overhydration occurs when you ingest more water than you eliminate. This can happen if you excessively quench thirst by drinking a lot of liquid. It can also be caused by problems with the kidneys, liver, or heart.
Overhydration can cause a dangerously low blood sodium level, leading to mental confusion and seizures if it develops rapidly.
When to Seek Medical Attention
Thirst is your body’s method of informing you that it lacks water. In normal circumstances, you should be able to satisfy your thirst in a short amount of time.
However, if you keep wanting to drink despite your efforts to quit, or after drinking doesn’t make the desire go away, it may be an indication of a more severe health problem, especially if it’s coupled with additional symptoms. This constant desire to consume alcohol might also be psychological.
Consult your doctor if:
- Despite how much fluid you consume, dehydration is resilient.
- You might also have blurry vision, ravenous hunger, or wounds that don’t heal.
- Aside from that, you’re also exhausted.
- You’re urinating more than 2.5 liters (2.64 quarts) each day.
Diabetes Thirst: The True Cause of Your Parched State
Excessive thirst is one of the tell-tale signs of diabetes. It’s also known as polydipsia. Urinating more than usual or polyuria is associated with another prevalent diabetes indicator: thirst.
It’s common to feel thirsty when you’re dehydrated. This might happen as a result of:
- You drink too few glasses of water.
- You’re sweating too much
- You’ve probably eaten something salty or spicy
Without warning, uncontrolled diabetes can cause you to feel parched without any apparent cause.
Diabetes and Thirst
Excessive thirst is one of the first indicators that you might have diabetes. Too much sugar (glucose) in your blood causes thirst and frequent urination. Sugar level and alcohol can also increase chances of diabetes.
Your body cannot utilize carbohydrates from food as efficiently when diabetes—sugar in your circulation increases. Your kidneys must work overtime to eliminate the extra sugar when high blood sugar levels.
To assist in transporting the additional sugar from your body, the kidneys must create extra urine. You’ll almost certainly have to urinate more frequently and produce a greater volume of urine. This depletes even more water in your body. To help eliminate the excess sugar, water is likewise taken from your tissues.
If you drink a lot of water over a few hours, your body will lose more fluid than it can replace. As a result, you’ll feel very thirsty. Your brain will encourage you to quench your thirst by drinking more water. This stimulates an increase in urination as a result. If your blood sugar levels are not balanced.
Diabetes Types
All forms of diabetes are long-term diseases that can impact your body’s sugar use. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are the two primary types of diabetes. All of your body’s activities, from breathing to eye movement, require energy (glucose) supplied by sugar (glucose).
Glucose must be absorbed into your cells to be burned for energy. The hormone insulin is the only means of transporting glucose into the cells. Sugar remains in your circulation without insulin to transport it.
Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease in which the body’s insulin-making abilities are obstructed, affects people of all ages. The condition usually manifests during childhood or adolescence.
In type 2 diabetes, which is the most common form, either the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the hormone’s signal. This is known as insulin resistance. The disease usually occurs in people over 40 who are overweight and inactive. However, an increasing number of children and adolescents are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes because of the growing rate of obesity.
Other Diabetes Symptoms
Excess thirst and urination are among the most common diabetes symptoms. You may also develop other symptoms as a result of either condition if it is not treated and controlled. Diabetes of any sort, if left unchecked and uncontrolled, can lead to the following indicators:
- Dry mouth
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Excess hunger
- Red, swollen, or tender gums
- Slow healing
- Frequent infections
- Mood changes
- Irritability
- Weight loss (typically in type 1)
- Numbness or tingling in hands or feet
Many individuals with type 2 diabetes do not experience any symptoms for years. Signs may be minor and gradually get worse. Type 1 diabetes has symptoms that appear quickly, though they can also be severe.
Treatment
You’ll need to inject or infuse insulin if you have type 1 diabetes. You may also require the use of other medicines. There is no cure for type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is managed with medicines that assist your body produce more insulin or improve how you use it. Insulin injections may be required.
A strict diet and regular exercise alone might control type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a progressive disease, and you may require medication and insulin as you get older.
It’s crucial to balance blood sugar levels when you have diabetes. Keeping your blood sugar levels stable is one of the most critical aspects of diabetes. They don’t go too high or too low, which means they’re in a reasonable range. When your blood sugar levels are balanced, you’ll be able to reduce or prevent excessive thirst.
You may require one or more diabetes medicines in addition to the appropriate daily diet and exercise. There are several types and combinations of diabetes medications, including:
- Oral medications, such as acarbose (Precose), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), glipizide (Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL), and tolbutamide (Orinase)
- Injectable medications, such as insulin
- Non-insulin medications that help the body respond better to insulin, called insulin sensitizers, including metformin (Glucophage, Fortamet, Glumetza, Riomet) and pioglitazone hydrochloride (Actos)
- Combinations of oral and injectable medications, such as glyburide/metformin (Glucovance), rosiglitazone/glimepiride (Avandamet), and pioglitazone/glipizide (ACOMPLIA)
Your doctor can assist you in managing diabetes. Make sure to:
- Take all medicines exactly as directed by your doctor.
- Each day, take insulin and/or drugs at the correct time.
- You should get routine blood tests for diabetes daily.
- Check your blood sugar levels regularly, using a meter or a continuous glucose monitor (CGM).
- Consult your doctor for check-ups regularly.
Lifestyle Tips
Lifestyle modifications, in addition to medicines, are essential for treating diabetes. You may live a healthy and productive life with diabetes. Self-care is just as critical as medical attention. A daily food and exercise regimen are also required. Discuss with your doctor or nutritionist the best diet plan for you.
Here are a few pointers to help you live a healthy lifestyle.
- Monitor your blood sugar levels before and after every meal with a home monitor
- Keep a journal with a record of your daily blood sugar levels
- Make a daily diet plan for each week
- Eat balanced meals, with an emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables
- Add plenty of fiber to your diet
- Schedule a time for exercise every day
- Track your steps to make sure you’re walking enough every day
- Join a gym or get a fitness buddy to motivate you to exercise more
- Track your weight and lose weight if you need to
- Record any symptoms you have
When to see a doctor
If you have persistent thirst or other signs of diabetes, your diabetes may be out of control, or your diabetes management might be ineffective.
Contact your doctor and inquire if you should be tested for diabetes. This involves a blood test. You’ll need to fast for approximately 12 hours before the test. As a result, it’s ideal for making an appointment as soon as possible in the morning.
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The Bottom Line
Excessive thirst is a common sign of diabetes. Diabetes can be prevented or controlled to alleviate or reduce this symptom and others. Living with diabetes necessitates that you devote greater attention to your health, particularly your daily diet and exercise regimen. You may require insulin injections and other diabetes treatments at certain times of the day. When administering insulin and other diabetes treatments, paying attention to the time is essential.
Even with diabetes, you can live a healthy life if you get the appropriate medical treatment and lifestyle changes. Do not dismiss any signs of thirst or other ailments. For routine check-ups, see your doctor. Your doctor may adjust your diabetes medications or therapy as needed to keep you healthier than ever before.
