Sugar And Urinary Tract Infections

What To Drink For A Uti

Can you treat a UTI by drinking cranberry juice? The answer behind the infamous cranberry juice cure is mixed. In some clinical studies , the consumption of pure cranberry juice, cranberry extracts, or cranberry supplements helped reduce the risk of repeated UTIs. In any case, however, the benefit to drinking cranberry juice for a UTI is small. So, what should you drink for a UTI instead? Water is by far the best beverage choice for someone with a UTI. Drinking at least 12 8-ounce cups of water each day while you have an infection will help flush the bacteria from your system and can speed up the healing process.

Urinary Tract Infections In Babies And Young Children

Babies and children are at risk of UTIs. These infections always need to be investigated as they may indicate a serious underlying condition, such as urinary reflux. Reflux is caused by a bladder valve problem allowing urine to flow back into the kidneys from the bladder. Reflux can cause the urine to stay inside the body increasing the risk of infection. It may lead to kidney scarring, which in turn leads to high blood pressure and sometimes kidney problems.

What Causes Incontinence Anyway

Simply put, incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine. There are many types of incontinence , and many different reasons why someone may develop bladder leaks. Bladder leaks may be the result of weakened pelvic floor muscles from childbirth, certain medications youre taking, or even nerve damage that developed because of a different condition all together.

You May Like: Natural Home Remedies For Urinary Tract Infection

Cranberry Extract Vs D

Now, you may be aware that it is believed by many that the primary reason cranberry extract works for a bladder infection is that it contains D-mannose. However, some research has demonstrated that cranberry contains a tannin that also prevents E. coli from adhering to the walls of the bladder. Additionally, another mechanism of action for cranberry is that it can decrease virulence. So theres more to cranberrys effectiveness, besides its D-mannose content. Furthermore, cranberry has demonstrated efficacy for inhibiting the adherence of other types of bacteria besides E.coli, including Proteus spp., P. aeruginosa, E. faecalis, S. aureus, S. typhimurium, and K. pneumoniae, as well as some multi-drug resistant E.coli strains.

My intention here is not to discourage you from using D-mannose. Some research, as well as anecdotal and clinical experience, suggest it is highly effective for many people. However, people who have SIBO are dealing with a different deck of cards, so I just want to make you aware that if you fall under this category of people, then you should exercise caution with this product. As mentioned previously, urinary tract infections are very common in people with Candida and SIBO and many people with Candida have SIBO unknowingly. If you get recurrent UTIs frequently, you should be looking into whether you have Candida and/or SIBO.

Read Also: How To Treat Feline Urinary Tract Infection

Why People With Diabetes Have More Utis And How To Prevent Infections

• A new study finds that high blood glucose levels in people with diabetes result in a relative lack of psoriasin, an important natural antibiotic that protects against urinary tract infections.
• The researchers also demonstrated that topically applied estrogen cream could help restore the levels of psoriasin in women.
• Experts offer tips to help people avoid urinary tract infections, whether or not they have diabetes.

Infections, especially urinary tract infections , are common experiences for people with diabetes. UTIs are also often renal papillary necrosis .

In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas stops producing insulin that regulates blood glucose levels. In type 2, cells become less sensitive to insulin. With both types, excessive glucose levels in the blood can reduce the effectiveness of ones immune system.

Dr. Jason Ng of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, not involved in the study, explained to Medical News Today, The higher sugars create a series of impaired defense mechanisms which people use to protect against UTIs.

Now, a study from researchers at Swedens Karolinska Institutet investigates the mechanism behind glucoses effect.

The study finds that high glucose levels in diabetes reduce levels of one of the bodys natural antibiotics, the antimicrobial peptide psoriasin, an important barrier against infection.

Urologist Dr. S. Adam Ramin, also not involved in the research, described the usual role of psoriasin to MNT:

Dr. Ramin explained:

Don’t Miss: How To Relieve Urinary Retention

You Eat A Lot Of Sugar

Bacteria that cause UTIs love feeding on sugar, so you run the risk of providing a feast for them whenever your sweet tooth strikes. Kalas V, et al. Structure-based discovery of glycomimetic FmlH ligands as inhibitors of bacterial adhesion during urinary tract infection. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1720140115

If you eat tons of added sugars and get a real surge in your blood sugar, you may end up with some of that sugar in your urine, says Mary Jane Minkin, MD, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Yale School of Medicine.

Some foods and beverages, like coffee, booze, and chocolate, can also irritate your delicate urinary tract and exacerbate an existing UTI.

What Are The Complications Of A Urinary Tract Infection

UTI symptoms can be painful and uncomfortable in themselves. It can also affect the different areas in the urinary tract and can severely hinder daily life functioning owing to the symptoms. Most often than not, they can be treated with antibiotics and require a short course. However, if it is undiagnosed or untreated, it can cause severe issues like kidney infections. While renal failure can be a big concern in people with untreated UTIs, other complications could be sepsis, multiple organ system dysfunctions, perinephric abscess, papillary necrosis, etc.

You May Like: Apple Cider Vinegar For Urinary Tract Infection

This Supplement Has Been Used In Connection With The Following Health Conditions:

Used for Urinary Tract InfectionRefer to label instructions D-Mannose may help treat UTIs by binding to bacteria that would otherwise attach to the urinary tract lining.

Some bacteria that typically cause urinary tract infections can attach themselves to the lining of the urinary tract by binding to molecules of mannose that naturally occur there. Theoretically, if enough D-mannose is present in the urine, it would bind to the bacteria and prevent them from attaching to the urinary tract lining. One animal study has demonstrated this protective effect, but whether it would occur in humans is unknown, and no human research has investigated the effectiveness of oral D-mannose for the prevention or treatment of urinary tract infections.

The Link Between Diabetes And Uti Has Been Established By Multiple Studies

The National Academy of Medical Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal, conducted a study to find out the prevalence of UTIs in diabetic patients. This study found that out of a total of 1470 diabetic patients about 10.5 percent of type 2 and 12.8 percent of type 1 diabetic patients had UTI.

In fact, in another study published in the journal Hindawi, scientists analyzed the urine samples of 772 patients and found that women and old-aged adults with uncontrolled diabetes are at higher risk of developing urinary tract infections.

Don’t Miss: Implantable Device For Urinary Incontinence

Can Eating Too Much Sugar Cause A Uti

A diet high in refined sugar can make you more susceptible to urinary tract infections. UTIs are caused by bacteria, not by sugar itself, but bacteria feed on the sugar and multiply, making it easier for an infection to take hold. Sugar also suppresses your immune system, making it harder to fight off infections.

The Problems With Sugar

What are the problems with sugar when it comes to cystitis? Firstly, never mind the cystitis, sugar is simply everywhere these days! Much of the time packaged or processed food and drinks are common culprits as they have lots of hidden sugar in them. Unfortunately, the ever-expanding sugary component of our diet is thought to be contributing to a number of issues, including obesity and type II diabetes, but possibly also smaller scale, yet equally troubling problems, such as recurrent cystitis or UTIs.

Here, I explore some of the ways in which sugar could be wreaking havoc with your bladder:

Don’t Miss: Medicine To Numb Urinary Tract

Healthy Steps: Urinary Tract Infectionsfirst Steps

For the greatest improvement with the fewest steps, do the following:

• Stop eating all sweeteners. Sugar impairs the bodys ability to fight infection. The worst sweets are likely to be those with high-fructose content such as soft drinks.
• Pure Encapsulations D-Mannose Powder. Take 1 teaspoon and 1/2 to 1 teaspoon three to four times daily. Continue for two to three days after symptoms have disappeared.
• Urinate fully to clean out the bladder. Urinate whenever you have the urge, or after any time you have pressure against the urethra, and be sure its a generous and well-diluted urination.

Dont Miss: Can You Have Intercourse While Having A Bladder Infection

Side Effects Of Taking D

Most people who take D-mannose dont experience side effects, but some might have loose stools or diarrhea.

If you have diabetes, talk with your doctor before taking D-mannose. It makes sense to be cautious since D-mannose is a form of sugar. Your doctor might want to monitor your blood sugar levels more closely if you take D-mannose.

If you have an active UTI, dont delay in talking with your doctor. Although D-mannose might help treat infections for some people, the evidence isnt very strong at this point.

Delaying treatment with an antibiotic that has been proven to be effective for treating an active UTI can result in the infection spreading into the kidneys and blood.

Don’t Miss: How Can You Prevent Urinary Tract Infections

Preventing Urinary Tract Infections

Well-controlled diabetes is important to prevent infections as well as other complications, said Prof. Brauner. It is of course not always easy to keep low-to-normal blood glucose levels.

Dr. Ng said the best way to prevent UTIs in patients with diabetes is to practice good hygiene habits and improve sugar control as much as possible.

Dr. Ramin offered some tips that can help people avoid UTIs:

• Stay well-hydrated to reduce the bacteria concentration in urine
• Avoid constipation by consuming adequate amounts of fibers, fruits, and water

We know that patients who are constipated, theyll get translocation of bacteria from their rectum into the bladder or from the large intestine to the bladder, so its important to avoid constipation, Dr. Ramin explained.

Women who are sexually active should exercise good hygiene, meaning that after sexual activity it is important for them to go to the bathroom and urinate relatively quickly, he added. Its important to keep good vaginal health, and keep that area clean.

Dr. Ramin also noted that some people can benefit from taking or drinking pure cranberry juice because the acid level may kill bacteria and prevent bacterial formation.

In the future, we hope to be able to target ways to locally increase psoriasin in the urinary bladders. We hope and believe that this could have positive effects on the prevention of infections in the bladder, Prof. Brauner concluded.

Agglutination Of Yeast Cells

The binding activity of FimH was evaluated by yeast agglutination assay . Strain CFT073 was grown in the absence and presence of 1.5% d-mannose for 48 h in static conditions. An aliquot of the bacterial culture grown in the presence of d-mannose was withdrawn, washed twice with PBS, vortexed at maximum speed for 20 min at room temperature and sonicated using an ultrasonic water bath, applying 35 kHz per 5 min in cold water . The vitality of vortexed and sonicated bacteria was assessed by CFU/mL counting. Untreated, d-mannose-treated, and d-mannose-treated V-S bacteria were resuspended to an OD600 1 and incubated individually with S. cerevisiae cells suspended in PBS to an OD600 4 for 1 h at room temperature. Each suspension was spotted on a microscope slide and streaked for Gram-staining. Images were acquired both macroscopically and microscopically .

Also Check: Royal Canin Urinary So And Calm

Pathogenesis Of Uti In Diabetics

The chance of occurrence of UTIs in diabetic patients used to increase many folds due to several factors. Multiple potential mechanisms unique to diabetes may cause increased risk of UTI in diabetic patients. Elevated renal parenchymal glucose levels create a positive environment for the growth and multiplication of microorganisms, which is one of the precipitating factors of pyelonephritis and renal problem such as emphysematous pyelonephritis. Several problems in the immune system, including humoral, cellular, and innate immunity, may help in the pathogenesis of UTI in diabetic patients . Lower urinary interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 levels were found in diabetic patients with UTI. An outline of process involved in pathogenesis of urinary tract infection in diabetic patients is mentioned in Figure 1.

Figure 1.

Process involved in pathogenesis of UTI in patients with diabetes.

Some suggested host related mechanisms include :

Other Causes Of Bladder Infection

Bacteria are the leading cause of bladder infections. If your body fails to flush these pathogens through urination, they may enter the bladder through your urethra.

Once in your bladder, they can attach to the walls and multiply quickly. If you don’t get treatment, the body eventually becomes overwhelming, causing a bladder infection.

Escherichia coli bacterium is the main culprit. Your large intestines have this bacteria naturally. So if bacteria from your stool enters the urinary tract, an infection may occur.

You May Like: Indian Home Remedy For Urinary Incontinence

Utis And Hospital Stays

A hospital stay can put you at risk for a UTI, particularly if you need to use a catheter. This is a thin tube thats inserted through the urethra to carry urine out of the body. Bacteria can enter through the catheter and reach the bladder. This is more often a problem for older adults who require prolonged hospital stays or who live in long-term care facilities.

Diabetes And Urinary Tract Infections

To avoid urinary tract infections, consult your doctor if symptoms occur.

People whose diabetes is not properly controlled have twice the risk of developing infections.

In addition to diabetes, you could be more susceptible to urinary tract infections if:

• Your blood glucose levels are not properly controlled.
• Sugar in the urine promotes bacterial growth.
• Your nervous system is already affected by diabetes .
• You could have a lazy bladder that does not empty completely.
• You are a woman.
• Certain anatomical traits, such as having a shorter urethra, increase the risk of bacterial contamination.
• You already have diabetes complications in your kidneys or blood vessels.
• This could be a sign that your diabetes is not properly controlled.
• You have had a urinary tract infection within the last year.
• People who have had infections within the last year are more at risk of a recurrence.

Recommended Reading: Urinary Tract Infection Diagnosis Test

What Are The Symptoms Of A Uti

Let me just start by saying, if you have ever had a urinary tract infection, you certainly know the symptoms. They are not easily forgotten even if it has been years since your last one! Here is a list of the classic symptoms some you may or may not experience:

• Burning with urination
• Strong odor to the urine
• Suprapubic pain
• In people with diabetes: High or Low blood sugars

It is very important to note here that older people or people with autonomic neuropathy may not show any of the classic symptoms. The first symptom you may notice in an older person can be confusion and maybe a low grade fever.

In my years nursing, I have cared for so many elderly women who were unable to either feel the symptoms of their urinary tract infections or had dementia and were unable to communicate the symptoms to a caregiver. The first indication the caregiver had was worsening confusion and by then, the infection was severe enough to require hospitalization. Most of these patients also had diabetes, which put them at a much higher risk as well.

Antibiotics And Other Medicines

If your healthcare provider discovers that bacteria are causing your bladder infection, they’ll likely prescribe antibiotics. The choice of antibiotics depends on the type of bacteria and any antibiotic allergies you have.

The treatment length depends on whether:

• The infection is severe

• The infection or symptoms fade

• You have repeated infections

• Your urinary tract has predisposing problems such as a kidney stone or prostatitis

For men, the length of treatment may be longer, especially if the bacteria enter the prostate gland and hide deeper inside the tissue. The prostate wraps around the urethra below the bladder.

Adhere to your doctor’s instructions and complete the entire treatment even if you feel better. If you have diabetes and a bladder infection, your doctor may recommend diabetes medication.

It’s worth noting that the diagnosis may be uncertain, or antibiotics may not work. Depending on test results and symptoms, your doctor will dig deeper to unearth the root cause and determine the best treatment for your symptoms.

Vaginal estrogen, probiotics, and “watchful waiting” may be excellent alternatives to antibiotics.

You May Like: Ayurvedic Medicine For Urinary Tract Infection

Know The Symptoms Of A Uti

If you or someone you are caring for has diabetes, call the doctor if you notice these symptoms: Frequent and strong urge to pee Pain, a burning feeling or discomfort when peeing Urine that has a strong smell, is cloudy, dark or bloody Pain in the back and/or lower abdomen Fever or chills

Note that you do not have to have all of these symptoms, and symptoms can be different in different people. For example, in some elderly patients, a UTI can also present as dementia, increased dementia or agitation. Some diabetes patients, especially those with diabetic neuropathy, may not experience the same pain in the abdomen or back when they have a UTI.