Nocturia

[Flakie]

Ive suffered with this for some years but have only been diagnosed with Type 2 since September 17. I’ve had all sorts of meds from the GP and one from Boots but none have helped in the past. I’ve seen continence nurses and had scans and tests and done all the measurements through the night. No reason for my hyperactive bladder! But at least pre diagnosis I did have some nights when I was only up 2 or 3 times. Now between 11 and 7 I can be getting up between 8 and 12 times, always a copious amount. Sometimes I don’t even get a straight hour. I don’t generally drink anything after 7pm but I do have a snack about 8.30, usually a few crackers or a pack of quavers. I know diabetes can cause nocturia but is there anything I’m doing wrong? Should I be drinking more through the day or having a drink at night? Should I cut out the snack in the evening? Getting pretty desperate as my sleep patterns are rubbish, I go straight back to sleep between visits but then go straight into weird dreams which isn’t normal. Thanks.

 

[trophywench]

Sounds to me that your blood glucose level is to blame - if it goes too high, the body tries to get rid of it by peeing the glucose out whether you've drunk anything recently or not, so yes you will wake up and need the loo and you can't stop the body doing this cos it's perfectly natural. Instead you need to prevent it happening by having better controlled blood glucose. If you aren't drinking enough then if this is happening you will simply land up seriously dehydrated.

If there is nowt wrong with your bladder and you can still do all the pelvic floor exercises properly (cos we do have to keep doing em) then blood glucose has got to be the prime suspect for the urination.

High and low BG can also both cause really weird technicolour disjointed dreams - low does it for me, but I'm asleep and the horrid dream wakes me up so I have to test and then correct the low. Do you ever test your BG before you go back to bed? Have you got a meter?

 

[Flakie]

Thanks Jenny
I have a meter but usually only test first thing, and it’s usually between 6 and 7. If I test in the day it’s never above 7 unless I’ve fallen off the wagon! Should I perhaps test last thing and see what it comes up with? I have to admit I’ve been a bit lax lately, started off fine on diagnosis but maybe let things slip a bit over Christmas and beyond. I’m a bit fond of snacking on my Tuc crackers and where a few are ok maybe not half a pack! So I need to concentrate on being more disciplined I think. As for not drinking enough you are right I think as I don’t tend to drink huge amounts, so that’s another target for me. As usual, the voice of reason so thank you. Couldn’t quite get my head round the link between drinking,,glucose levels and the peeing! Need to work harder! Thanks.

 

[Amigo]

Ive suffered with this for some years but have only been diagnosed with Type 2 since September 17. I’ve had all sorts of meds from the GP and one from Boots but none have helped in the past. I’ve seen continence nurses and had scans and tests and done all the measurements through the night. No reason for my hyperactive bladder! But at least pre diagnosis I did have some nights when I was only up 2 or 3 times. Now between 11 and 7 I can be getting up between 8 and 12 times, always a copious amount. Sometimes I don’t even get a straight hour. I don’t generally drink anything after 7pm but I do have a snack about 8.30, usually a few crackers or a pack of quavers. I know diabetes can cause nocturia but is there anything I’m doing wrong? Should I be drinking more through the day or having a drink at night? Should I cut out the snack in the evening? Getting pretty desperate as my sleep patterns are rubbish, I go straight back to sleep between visits but then go straight into weird dreams which isn’t normal. Thanks.

You’ve probably already seen this flakie but in case not, here’s the link;

https://www.bladderandbowel.org/bladder/bladder-conditions-and-symptoms/nocturia/

I have this to a degree and in my case I suspect it’s also kidney implicated. Frankly the amount of liquid doesn’t correspond with my need to pee during the night and advice is don’t be leaving yourself dehydrated to try and ease the inconvenience of nocturia. Sometimes a sleep study is actually needed.

I’ve no doubt glucose is implicated however and what we eat during the course of the day, not just evenings is lurking waiting to be expelled. Try very low carb as an experiment and good luck. I’ve got a threadbare carpet patch next to my bed!

 

[trophywench]

LOL - a groove in the concrete underneath ours by now !

 

[Nikki35]

I know that if my blood sugar levels are raised when i go to bed then i am up for a wee a few times! If my sugars are around 8 when i go to bed then i can sleep right through.
This is just my own experience and observations...

 

[Flakie]

Thanks Amigo for the link. And thanks Nikki for your comments. Out of curiosity I have just tested and it was 5.5 which is good for me. And I had a small glass of milk and a pack of Quavers about two hours ago. So let’s see what happens tonight!

 

[Flakie]

6.2 this morning and up 8 times between getting to sleep before 11 and getting up at 7. Pretty average for me but will keep trying to keep those levels low and see if that improves. Thanks for all your comments.