Diabetes & Yeast Infections

Yeast, or Candida, occurs in the body as part of the body's normal bacteria and organisms. The yeast is usually kept in check and are a necessary part of body functions. Increases in blood sugar, or other when drastic changes occur, Candida cells multiply unchecked, resulting in a diabetes yeast infection.



Diabetics tend to have lower immune systems because the disease alters the normal function of the pancreas and other important organs in the body. Yeast is attracted to sugar, in fact sugars are its main nutrient.



Most people wonder how having diabetes causes recurring yeast infections. This is because normally, the vagina has a high acidity and yeast can't thrive in that environment. But if a woman has diabetes, her vagina secretes fluids that contain more glucose/sugar than normal. This will result in the yeast organisms thriving because of the presence of the sugar that are vital for them. Diabetes yeast infection nearly always recurs more often than yeast infections in people that do not have diabetes.



Diabetics' lower immune system contributes to higher susceptibility to yeast infections and slower recovery from them. Vaginal yeast infections symptoms include itching or discomfort on the vaginal area. This will be coupled with vaginal discharge resembling cottage cheese that have a foul odor. Other effects would include pain during sexual intercourse or urination.



It is important to spot a diabetes yeast infection by being observant to its symptoms. This is because the presence of yeast can also be an indicator of the threat of getting other infections, or never fully getting rid of the yeast overgrowth.



In people with diabetes, the combination of yeast, high blood sugar and a low immune system makes the body generally weaker. Thus it is disabled from fighting off other viruses.



The important thing to do is keep the diabetes yeast infection in check by avoiding foods and drinks containing high amounts of sugar.



Also, exercise and keep yourself active to increase your metabolism and improve your blood circulation. Try to get 8 hours of sleep each night to avoid fatigue. More importantly, don't neglect your insulin treatments.



Try some home remedies to combat the yeast infection itself. While you are treating diabetes yeast infection, keep it in check by maintaining a healthy lifestyle in order to keep up the strength of your immune system even if it is slightly weakened by your diabetes.



Eat garlic and yogurt in order to aid your body in fighting off the diabetes yeast infection. Fresh fruits can replace sugary snacks to avoid building an environment for yeast. Even if you get rid of the yeast infection, it can keep on coming back if you do not keep your diabetes in check.



The primary goal is to contain the harmful effects of a diabetes yeast infection. Once you get infected, act quickly in order to not strain your already weakened body for any longer. Do this and you can cope with these two illnesses without much trouble or danger.

Yeast Infection - The Diabetes Connection

Generally, all women at some point in their lives will suffer through a yeast infection, however those who also have diabetes will be especially vulnerable. The normal environment in the vagina is acidic. Yeast cells are kept in balance there by the lack of available nutrients and this acidic environment.

Women who have diabetes have higher amounts of glucose, or sugar, in their blood. This causes vaginal secretions to also contain more glucose, which changes the environment. This change provides nourishment to yeast cells and as they feed on this extra glucose, they are able to multiply and turn into a yeast infection.

Another thing that helps to prevent candidiasis, yeast infections, is a normal immune system. Hyperglycemia can interfere with your immune system. If you get a yeast infection and you are diabetic it could mean a couple of things; One, your glucose levels are not completely under control, your blood glucose levels are too high; Or two, there is another area of your body suffering from an infection, and your immune system cannot handle assaults from both locations.

Yeast Infection Can Have Serious Effects On People With Diabetes

A yeast overgrowth in the vagina, or other parts of the body, may prevent the body's own defense mechanisms from effectively fighting off other types of infection. Women who are diabetic and have a yeast infection will be more vulnerable to other infections like cold and flu.

The body's ability to ward off other viruses and bacteria is inhibited by the combination of high blood glucose levels and yeast overgrowth.

An infection of any kind in people with diabetes can pose a serious risk. Blood sugar levels can fluctuate higher or lower than usual when the body is trying to fight off the infection; this of course causes complications with trying to control the diabetes. We are all aware of the risks to a diabetic person if their blood sugar spikes high or drops very low.

What Are the Treatment Options?

There are antifungal medications that can be gotten by prescription and over the counter, but you should definitely consult with a health care provider before taking any of these because of the risk of interaction with your regular medications. That is why it is so much better to go with a natural option to cure your yeast infection; there is so much less risk.

There is also the option of using a vaginal suppository; however you must be certain that you actually have a vaginal yeast infection, as misdiagnosis can actually lead to fungicide resistant yeast. Women with diabetes who have yeast infections may require longer than average treatment to ensure that all the yeast is brought under control.

Yeast infections can happen in other areas of the body and can be treated by topical or oral antifungal agents, or as we prefer, natural methods to cure yeast infections. One very important thing you need to remember when you are treating a yeast infection, for people with diabetes especially is the need to ensure that whatever regime you follow you continue right to the end of the course of treatment. This will ensure that the yeast is under control. If you stop taking treatments early because you feel somewhat better, you run the risk of having the infection return even stronger than before.

If you have diabetes, or know someone who does then please check out our resource box for more information. You owe it to yourself to do the right thing and seek help for this debilitating, and potentially fatal condition.

Diabetes and Yeast Infection - What is the Role of Diabetes?

 Is diabetes and yeast infection co-related? Well, it is a well known fact that diabetes is a state that has many health problems attached with it. One of such possibilities is the occurrence of infections of yeast through diabetes, although many would not like to be very expressive about it.  People believe that having it is an embarrassing situation and would not like to discuss about it. 



In order to understand the link between the two, it is important to know how the skin infections occur. A lot of bacteria are present in the gastro-intestinal tract. Due to changes in lifestyle and diet, this balance is disturbed. One of such bacteria present is yeast.  



How does this infection take place? 



One of the main causes of yeast overgrowth is chronic infections.  This results on account of presence of too much sugar. Not only that it results in diabetes, but also causes Candida infections. If there are repetitive Candida outbreaks, then it would be well advisable to have the levels of glucose checked in your blood. Although diabetes is not the only reason for the incidence of a chronic infection, a high level of sugar consumption surely triggers this condition. Yeast is fed by sugars present in the body, in the same fashion as yeast type foods and carbohydrates. 



Yeast infection and diabetes: 



An important complication of diabetes is that the blood sugar levels if not kept under control could trigger such a skin infection. This happens because an increased level of glucose in the body does affect many other bodily mechanisms and has a tremendous influence on the body's immune status. 



If you happen to suffer from diabetes, chances are you will find yourself constantly battling with Candida outbreaks.  In its advanced form, along with vaginal infections and thrush, you also experience chronic fatigue, pain in the joints and knees, loss of memory, intestinal problems like constipation and diarrhoea and dizziness.  In general you experience bad health at all times. 



Depending upon the gravity of the disease, the treatment of this infection coupled with diabetes can often be complex.  However, a diet that is low in sugar is an absolute must. This will suppress the yeast fungus by letting it starve and ultimately destroys it.  Another precaution to be taken is avoiding the consumption of mushrooms, honey and dried fruits that also help a lot in feeding the yeast. If you can remain on diet for a three to six months period, you can gradually re-introduce them into your diet thereafter depending on your situation.  



Apart from the above suggestions, you can also try certain holistic treatments in order to get rid of diabetes and yeast infections.  You can also consider following a simple Candida Diet that could help prevent any further recurring infections.