Low Carb Bladder Issues

[leatrix]

Hi there, a quick back story, I was diagnosed with Type 2 a couple of years ago, and started on Metformin (which I soon gave up due to sudden watery diarrhoea), I then decided to lose weight instead on relying on meds, which I successfully achieved, going from 17 stone to 13 stone and dropping my blood sugar on the tester from 22 to these days between 5.8 to 6.2, so I've taken that as a win. The only issue is, I'm having awful problems now with bladder pain and almost constant UTI's that antibiotics aren't touching (I have about 5 cups of water a day too). I've now noticed though, that if I lift my daily carb count from 60 to 80, this pain subsides somewhat, but then of course, my blood sugar on the tester goes to 7.2+ the following day. So now I'm stuck on knowing what to do? Has anyone else had this problem, it's ruining my life tbh as I don't like to go out, feeling I may need a loo urgently and night time is awful, as I spend much of it on the loo. HELP!

 

[Leadinglights]

Apologies if I am wrong but if you are male have you had your prostate checked as an enlarged prostate can be responsible for the symptoms you describe and it may be co-incidental that having more carbs makes a difference.
My other half ( not diabetic) was up 5-7 times in the night for the loo as he had an enlarged prostate and was getting UTIs.
I suggest a call to the GP.

 

[leatrix]

Apologies if I am wrong but if you are male have you had your prostate checked as an enlarged prostate can be responsible for the symptoms you describe and it may be co-incidental that having more carbs makes a difference.
My other half ( not diabetic) was up 5-7 times in the night for the loo as he had an enlarged prostate and was getting UTIs.
I suggest a call to the GP.

Sorry, I should have said, female, age 52.

 

[Leadinglights]

Sorry, I should have said, female, age 52.

OK forget all that then. But maybe still worth a call to your GP
It maybe you need a different antibiotic for the UTI depending on just where the infection is some work better than others.

 

[leatrix]

OK forget all that then. But maybe still worth a call to your GP
It maybe you need a different antibiotic for the UTI depending on just where the infection is some work better than others.

I agree, I'll give them a call tomorrow, just wondered if anyone else had experienced this. Thanks for replying though; much appreciated!

 

[trophywench]

Do you ever test your BG at random times, rather than for a specific purpose at specific times during the day?

 

[Lucyr]

5 cups of water doesn’t sound much unless they’re large ones, how big is your cup and are you sure you’re drinking enough?

 

[trophywench]

That's true! Our mugs aren't even half a pint = not much more than a litre, if that.

 

[Lucyr]

That's true! Our mugs aren't even half a pint = not much more than a litre, if that.

My mug / glasses are 250ml so 12 a day for the 3L a day I was told to drink when ill. But if they’re 5 pint glasses that’s about right

 

[leatrix]

I only test same time in the morning (around 8am) and after work (7pm).

Do you ever test your BG at random times, rather than for a specific purpose at specific times during the day

 

[leatrix]

5 cups of water doesn’t sound much unless they’re large ones, how big is your cup and are you sure you’re drinking enough?

They're probably not if I'm being honest, just an 8oz cup each time, I'm struggling drinking this much as it is (always been terrible with drinking water)

 

[leatrix]

My mug / glasses are 250ml so 12 a day for the 3L a day I was told to drink when ill. But if they’re 5 pint glasses that’s about right

It looks like this maybe the issue then, I'm shocking at drinking water. I'll have a go and see! TY. I've made an appointment at the GP, it's for next week, so hopefully will give me a week to get going with more water!

 

[Leadinglights]

It looks like this maybe the issue then, I'm shocking at drinking water. I'll have a go and see! TY. I've made an appointment at the GP, it's for next week, so hopefully will give me a week to get going with more water!

I don't think it needs to be plain water but could be flavoured sparkling or still water or flavoured tea infusions or any zero added sugar drinks. Caffeinated drinks can dehydrate so beware of too many.

 

[trophywench]

ANY sugar &/or carbohydrate free drink is OK. Yes plain water is ideal, but life isn't ideal! UTI's flourish when the BG is high enough to spill over into the bladder with your urine - and that does not happen normally until your actual BG is 11.0 +. That is why I asked how often you test your BG. I'm confident you'd be surprised if you could see the levels of glucose in your blood every day (and night) when you don't usually test it.

 

[Mrs Mimoo]

OK forget all that then. But maybe still worth a call to your GP
It maybe you need a different antibiotic for the UTI depending on just where the infection is some work better than others.

I find as a middle aged woman that GPs are generally not up on UTIs or dismissive. It may be worth asking for different antibiotics for at least 3 week course. Cefelexin or something strong or it won't go.

 

[Pookie]

I have been diabetic for 4 months now, during which time I have had 3 UTIs. The antibiotics worked almost instantly in my case because I started them instantly, but I was told by a nutritionalist that it could be a good idea to take a daily probiotic specifically targeted to helping stop the UTIs. I'm going to do this because having a UTI is a complete nightmare. Of course if it works how do I know if I'm just over UTIs generally or the probiotic is working - no idea - but its worth a try!

 

[Outofsorts]

Worth a thought when I was a similar age to you and most women are short of oestrogen at your age this can bring on uti I used to get them 9 times a year , better now on hrt just a thought , let us know how you get on

 

[pinkjude]

I find as a middle aged woman that GPs are generally not up on UTIs or dismissive. It may be worth asking for different antibiotics for at least 3 week course. Cefelexin or something strong or it won't go.

my GP sent my urine sample off and the culture it grew would only respond to 2 antibiotics, once I started on the right ones it cleared up more quickly. Are you sure its not thrush?