Out Of Curiosity

[Ralph-YK]

I meant if you're "well controlled" you're at less risk.

The other thing some say is healing slower too,

I've been told that too. Had big problems with clearing my cellulitis. Though I'm allergic to penecilen, which is possibly the better antibiotic to use for it.
I've had several bouts of it. Only the 1 def since diagnoses though. Made me really feel like c****, like I hadn't slept for a week, before there were any other symptoms. When I was diagnosed, I was spending 3 weeks sat in hospital on IV antibiotics for the infection.

As ever, there is a limit on the information provided by HCP. You've to pick up what you can where you can.

 

[helli]

I think, like risk of serious covid, conclusions are drawn from the data available.
The database/spreadsheet/... has a column for "diabetes" and a column for "UTI incidents". It doesn't have details such as Hb1AC or anything that indicates blood sugar.
It may be true that more people with diabetes suffer from UTI but is that because more people with diabetes have blonde hair or size 7 feet or higher blood sugars or ...?
We all know that we are all different but often our differences are lost in data studies.

I can't change that I have diabetes (or my natural hair colour or my shoe size) but I can manage things like blood sugars and weight which reduces most risk so I will work on what I can change and try not to get too anxious about the things I can't.

 

[rebrascora]

I also think it is easy to assume that this forum is representative of diabetics in general and I think that is probably not the case. We are here because we proactively want to manage our diabetes as well as possible and learn how to do that. I think there will be a huge number of diabetics who just go away from their diagnosis and take the medication they are given (and probably some that don't take the medication) and assume their diabetes is being taken care of..... either because they don't have any symptoms or don't realise they have symptoms. One of those symptoms could easily be UTIs or thrush or cellulitis or other recurring infections including gum disease etc.
Since diabetics are diagnosed by having higher than normal BG levels and those high BG levels enable infection to thrive it is reasonable to say diabetics in general are more likely to suffer such infections. Well managed diabetics are no more likely to have these problems than a non-diabetic person but sometimes despite your best efforts BG levels can increase and make you vulnerable, so I would day that yes diabetics are more at risk. It is how well we manage that risk which is important. I am sure there are many elderly diabetics who really struggle to manage their levels and do get UTIs frequently due to the diabetes and other factors to do with age and I am sure those cases will bump the statistics in the same way as they will also bump the Covid stats for fatality with diabetes.

 

[nonethewiser]

I also think it is easy to assume that this forum is representative of diabetics in general and I think that is probably not the case. We are here because we proactively want to manage our diabetes as well as possible and learn how to do that.

I'd say we are proactive bunch but lets not kid ourselves that you need to be forum member to manage diabetes well & take health seriously.

Know few type 1's type 2's who manage condition well & have never been near this or any other forum, some met at pump meetings & clinics said they've had bad experiences so don't go near them now, not this one might add just for clarity.

 

[Piglet]

AS a well controlled type 1, I have had several UTI's over the years and currently am awaiting a urology appt for a recurring UTI which I have had since February and still after several attempt of getting rid with antibiotics it remains. women are also at an increased risk due to the location of our bits.

 

[Schrodinger]

You are saying that you've heard of it but have you heard of it in well controlled diabetes or like I thought just if the person tends to suffer often with high BG's?
xx

Both, even well controlled diabetics have their ups and downs so a couple of days of spikes could lead to possible infection but like all of these things nothing is guaranteed.

 

[helli]

Both, even well controlled diabetics have their ups and downs so a couple of days of spikes could lead to possible infection but like all of these things nothing is guaranteed.

And not everything is due to diabetes.
If only D protected us from every other illness 🙄

 

[Bloden]

Yes but that was with high BG, my point is this person claimed it was more common JUST because of being diabetic a lone which is not something I believe xx

When my BG is in range (or out of range, for that matter) I don’t get UTIs. In fact, I haven’t had a UTI since dx...thankfully!🙂

 

[Lanny]

My SIL is very prone to them & I’m always telling her to drink more water! She’s a type 2 diabetic too on insulin & has always been better controlled than me but, not in the habit of drinking much water! I, on the other hand, have regularly drunk at least 2 litres of water a day: some of my diabetic doctors in the past have said that I’m maybe drinking TOO much which can confuse or mask issues as I go to the toilet more often anyway because of the amount of water I drink; don’t like taking long journeys on buses if I can help it as they don’t have toilets like trains do! 🙄

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Pretty much 30 years in, and I’ve never had a UTI

 

[Annemarie]

Every medical issue I have had since my diagnosis has been blamed on diabetes even MRSA!

 

[mikeyB]

UTIs are far commoner in women than men. In women, the urethra is only a few centimetres long, so it’s far easier for bacteria to access the bladder. Furthermore, the anatomy makes a difference. The opening of the urethra is only a few centimetres from the anus, which is a great source of bacteria no matter how clean you make the region. UTIs are almost always due to coliform bacteria.

All you need to make that a perfect storm, is add in the trauma of intercourse, and you’ll rather wonder how UTIs aren’t commoner than they are already. And that’s why ladies should have a wee after sex, to flush bugs out.

It’s all rather badly designed. You wouldn’t build things that way if you started from scratch.