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Dry mouth cures please

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Emiibo

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi all I’m still trying to get my bg under control is not been 12 weeks since diagnosed yet so I’ve still got a load of the annoying symptoms. The one getting to me the most is the dry mouth especially at night as it’s waking me up more than needing a wee is!! My mouth is so dry my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth, I’m drinking got England (about 4 x 1.5 ltr bottles). Does anyone have any suggestions for relief? I really need a decent nights sleep xx
 
The up all night peeing and chugging water is hellish, welcome and you have my sympathy! Could you tell us a bit more - what medication you’re on, what your diet is like, etc? 6l a day is an awful lot to be drinking, even in this heat.
 
I’m on one metformin tablet as there’s all I can handle even though it’s the modified release and I’m on trulicity injection 0.75mg once a week. My diet is getting better with only the odd carb heavy day as my brain is like a teenager and making crave carbs because it’s been told I need to eat less of them ‍♀️. I’m restarting slimming world next week as a diabetic member. Yeah I’m constantly thirsty I can chug half the bottle in one go sometimes as it feels like I’ve not drank all day
 
They haven’t given me a meter, it might be worth me calling diabetic nurse tomorrow incase she washes to check me over I suppose. She said I could call her anytime. My other concern is dehydration as although I’m drinking that much is coming out just a quick either by weeing or excessive sweating
 
Emiibo said:
I’m on one metformin tablet as there’s all I can handle even though it’s the modified release and I’m on trulicity injection 0.75mg once a week. My diet is getting better with only the odd carb heavy day as my brain is like a teenager and making crave carbs because it’s been told I need to eat less of them ‍♀. I’m restarting slimming world next week as a diabetic member. Yeah I’m constantly thirsty I can chug half the bottle in one go sometimes as it feels like I’ve not drank all day
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It sounds to me as if you need an urgent check up to see exactly what your blood sugars are doing.

Are you def type2 and not a misdiagnosed type1?
 
I don’t know all these said it’s I’m type 2 diabetic I don’t know how they test to see difference? X
 
I have the same problem, but have always had it I think, even before type 2. Nasty. I keep a milk bottle full of water by the bed.
 
Just because they said you are type 2 does not mean that you are. As type 1 can not produce enough insulin they check how much insulin you are making with a c-peptide test. Type 1s destroy their own insulin producing cells and a GAD test is used to check if this is happening.

If you are type 1 not type 2 then any medication taken by mouth will not work long term. It may appear to work initially, but this is probably due more to the diet changes rather than the medication.

Thirst is due to a desperate attempt by the kidneys to flush out excess sugar from the blood. You can not be sure that this is the case with out a test either for blood glucose or for sugar in the urine. See if you can get hold of some sticks to test your urine. Glucose in the urine indicates a high blood glucose far above what one would like to see in type 2.

The danger is that mis-diagnosed type 1 can get worse very quickly so it is essential that you get it checked soon.
 
Hi @Emiibo Definitely call the nurse. Apart from the unpleasantness, such symptoms could mean your blood sugar is very high. If it is, that needs attention.

If it was me, I’d also be buying my own blood glucose meter so I could test at home and be aware of what was happening.

If there’s any doubt about your diabetes type, that needs resolving too, but getting your blood sugar tested and lower is the most urgent thing.

Do let us know how you get on.
 
By far the commonest cause of a dry mouth is mouth breathing, specially at night. It’s completely different to thirst. Drinking large amounts won’t help, and 6 litres a day is dangerous.

Frequent small sips, sucking ice cubes can ease it. There’s no magic cure, and diabetes likely has nothing to do with it.
 
mikeyB said:
By far the commonest cause of a dry mouth is mouth breathing, specially at night. It’s completely different to thirst. Drinking large amounts won’t help, and 6 litres a day is dangerous.

Frequent small sips, sucking ice cubes can ease it. There’s no magic cure, and diabetes likely has nothing to do with it.
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I agree BUT rule out any diabetes related problem first! This might be very serious and it is simple to check.

\i too suffer gtom fty mouth now and then the cause and treatment are close to what you advise, but I can be certain that my BG is not high. I could never drink large amounts of water in this case anyway/

Restricting fluid intake if the cause of thirst is high BG can be dangerous.
 
Ok so diabetes nurse called me back today. She’s stopping my metformin as I have a really bad upset stomach that they’re testing me for things like gallbladder, crohns etc. She said if I’m thirsty to drink, and now wants me to treat my bg twice a day before breakfast and before dinner for a week so she can see a better picture as my bg was 11.5 and that was before I’d eaten anything. She’s given me other things to look out for and I’m to call her back or call out of hours if I get them xx
 
Can I ask what you were drinking to slake your thirst/dry mouth? If you have been drinking something containing carbs then it will be self perpetuating (if it is due to high BG levels) because the kidneys are working overtime to remove the glucose and if you are drinking fruit juice or milk or pop etc, then you are just putting more glucose back into your system for your Kidneys to remove meaning you are thirsty again.
 
I’m drinking water, herbal tea and one coffee. The 6ltrs is water alone it doesn’t include the coffee or the herbal tea xx
 
Due to your symptoms I would be questioning your diagnoses of type2 diabetes and ask/insist you are tested or treated as a type 1 until a proper diagnoses made.
 
Emiibo said:
I’m drinking water, herbal tea and one coffee. The 6ltrs is water alone it doesn’t include the coffee or the herbal tea xx
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I think you should mention to your Dr that you are needing to drink that quantity of water. It is much more than usual.

I also agree with @Pumper_Sue that it would be wise to ask for a C-Peptide check to see how much insulin you are producing (a T2 with insulin resistance would be producing lots, while if you are LADA or slow-onset T1 you will only be producing low levels).
 
If you are not eating much in the way of carbs and you have BG readings in the high teens what else is there to look out for?
 
You could ask your GP to refer you to an endocrinologist, who will arrange blood tests to determine if it is T1. My GP has just refered me as the oral drugs were no longer keeping the glucose at sensible levels.
 
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