Who Is Affected By Utis And How Are They Treated
Women are more commonly affected by them than men. Around half of women will need treatment for at least one UTI during their lifetime.
If treated with the right antibiotics, UTIs normally cause no further problems and the infection soon passes. Though complications are uncommon, they can be serious and include kidney damage and blood poisoning, which can be fatal.
Dont Miss: Z Pack Urinary Tract Infection
How Is A Uti Treated
The treatment for your uti will depend on what type of infection it is. If it is a bacterial infection, it will be treated with an antibiotic. If it is determined that it is a fungal infection, it will be treated with a different medication which targets fungal infections.
The first step your doctor will take will be to obtain a urine sample this urine sample will determine if you have an infection. If so, the urine is then also cultured to determine which antibiotic it is sensitive to, in other words, which antibiotic will effectively treat and kill the bacteria. This will take a few days because the bacteria has to grow in a petri dish. See, there really are reasons some of these tests take time!
In the meantime, your physician will immediately start you on a broad spectrum antibiotic this is an antibiotic that effectively treats many types of bacteria. If when the tests come back it is determined that you need a different antibiotic, your doctor will notify you and prescribe a different antibiotic which will treat your specific infection.
Sometimes the pain of a urinary tract infection is so great you may require a medication to alleviate the pain. Your doctor can prescribe a special medication which targets the pain associated with UTIs.
Follow-up is essential to determine if the infection has cleared, so if your physician asks you to come back, please do so!
Can I Prevent Utis From Developing
The following methods may help to lower the risk of urinary tract infection:
- Drink plenty of water
- Keeping your blood sugar under good control
- Drinking cranberry juice
- Try not to hold off the need to wee
- Going to the toilet after sex
- Making sure you regularly wash your genitals
- In particular, washing your genitals before sex
- Wiping your bum from front to back
If you experience a lot of UTIs, you may wish to avoid the use of spermicides. If you decide to do this, consult your healthcare team to ask about other forms of birth control
You May Like: Symptoms Of High Blood Sugar Levels In Type 2 Diabetes
Pathogens Of Uti In Diabetes
A descriptive, cross sectional study was conducted on UTI and antibiotic sensitivity pattern among diabetic patients in National Academy of Medical Sciences , Mahabouddha, Kathmandu, Nepal. According to this study, E. coli is the most common organism followed by Klebsiella, Proteus, and Pseudomonas . Most of the urinary isolates were sensitive to Ceftriaxone, Ciprofloxacin, and Cotrimoxazole, whereas resistance was high for ampicillin .
A study was conducted to find out the prevalence of UTI in diabetic patients. A total of 1470 diabetic patients were included in the study, admitted to the Diabetes Clinic of the Emergency Clinical County Hospital Timioara between January and December 2012. According to this study, 10.7% in overall population had positive urine cultures. In this population, almost 78% of patients were having asymptomatic bacteriuria. The most frequent bacteria involved in UTI are Escherichia coli .
About 10.5% of type 2 and 12.8% of type 1 diabetic patients had UTI. There is no significant difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes 4.5% of men and 15.3% of women developed UTI, an extremely significant difference
Chi et al. concluded that urinary tract infections are more prevalent in diabetic patients. Because of the high proportion of asymptomatic forms among diabetic patients, the urine culture should be done in all hospitalized patients with diabetes.
| Gram-negative microorganisms |
|---|
How Can A Uti Be Prevented
Amanda recently contacted TheDiabetesCouncil asking how to prevent utis. There are quite a few simple things you can start doing today, that will ensure you dont end up with another dreaded infection tomorrow!
The very best prevention is to practice good hygiene techniques. Now remember, I am a Registered Nurse, so I am going to get technical here ladies:
- Wiping front to back is essential! Transfer of bacteria is definitely going to happen otherwise and will cause a urinary tract infection for sure!
- Go to the bathroom and empty your bladder immediately after sexual intercourse ladies.
- Every time you empty your bladder, try to make sure it is fully empty.
- Drink lots of water to keep your bladder flushed out current recommendation is 8 eight ounce glasses per day .
- Keep your diabetes under the best possible control!
I know these techniques seem simple at first glance, but if you are vigilant, they really will work. Practicing these preventive techniques will go a long way in helping you stay healthy and hopefully avoid a potentially life threatening urinary tract infection.
Why does diabetes increase the risk for getting a UTI?
Weaker immune system, poor blood circulation, high blood glucose levels, and diabetic neuropathy are some of the reasons why people with diabetes are at a higher risk
I am a woman, am I at a high risk of getting a UTI?
What are the signs and symptoms that I should watch for?
The most common signs and symptoms to look out for are:
Also Check: Dario Blood Glucose Monitor Kit Test
Uti Symptoms In Seniors: What To Watch Out For
For seniors, many of the symptoms of a urinary tract infection are linked to changes in behavior, and they may include:
- Social withdrawal
Many of these atypical UTI symptoms mimic the signs of dementia, and the initial reaction to a senior acting in this way may be fear of developing or worsening dementia or Alzheimers. The first thing to do is to find out if the elderly individual has a UTI, since a UTI can exacerbate symptoms of dementia or cause these symptoms in an elderly individual who has not developed dementia.
Read Also: What Can Be Done For Urinary Incontinence
Preventing Utis With Diabetes
Taking care of your diabetes well will help prevent UTIs. For example, having high blood glucose levels can increase your risk of a UTI, so keeping blood sugar levels as steady as possible is important. Make sure you empty as much of your bladder as possible when you pee. This can be an issue for people with diabetes and can contribute to bacteria growth that can cause infection.
Other UTI prevention tips are the same whether you have diabetes or not. They include:
- Drink plenty of water.
Read Also: How To Heal Diabetic Sores
Are Frequent Utis A Sign Of Diabetes Or Is A Uti A Symptom Of Diabetes
A review from 2005 found that an astounding 50% of people with diabetes have some type of dysfunction of their bladder- thats half of every man and woman with diabetes. There are quite a few theories which we have already discussed, but again, most of the newer theories and research have only been conducted on rats.
Another fact this review highlights is that women who have Type 1 diabetes have a higher risk for kidney infections , which can potentially damage the kidneys function long term. This may lead to the need for a kidney transplant as the damage becomes severe.
What Happens If A Diabetic Gets An Infection
Certain diseases, such as malignant external otitis, rhinocerebral mucormycosis, and gangrenous cholecystitis, virtually usually attack exclusively diabetics. In addition to being potentially more dangerous, infectious infections may cause metabolic problems such as hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis, and coma in patients with diabetes mellitus.
Don’t Miss: Swelling Of Feet And Ankles In Diabetics
Why Do Diabetics Get Uti Frequently
To understand this, Health Shots got in touch with Dr Pritam Moon, consultant physician, and Diabetologist, Wockhardt Hospital Mira Road, Mumbai.
Dr Moon says, Diabetes, which is a high blood sugar condition, is a good medium for bacteria to grow or travel so the chances are much higher to happen in diabetes.
How Are Utis Diagnosed
UTIs can be identified by urine sample. The urine is examined under a microscope for bacteria or white blood cells, signs of infection. Your health care provider may also take a urine culture. This test detects and identifies bacteria and yeast in the urine, which may be causing a UTI.
Those with diabetes should also routinely monitor their UTIs with Utiva Test Strips. These are incredibly beneficial for those with chronic UTIs, as they are the same type of tests that most doctors use to diagnose.
Utiva UTI Test Strips have two tests in one and can be done from the comfort of your own home. It checks for both Leukocyte and Nitrite , and gives you results in just 2 minutes!
Recommended Reading: What Does High Blood Sugar Feel Like
Yeast And Urinary Tract Infections
Many women will get a vaginal yeast infection at some point, but women with diabetes are at higher risk especially if their blood sugar levels are high.
More than 50% of women will get a urinary tract infection in their lifetime, and your risk may be higher if you have diabetes. Causes include high blood sugar levels and poor circulation . Also, some women have bladders that dont empty all the way because of diabetes, creating a perfect environment for bacteria to grow.
What You Can Do: To prevent yeast infections and UTIs, keep your blood sugar levels as close to your target range as possible. Other ways to prevent UTIs: drink lots of water, wear cotton underwear, and urinate often instead of waiting until your bladder is full.
Can High Sugar Cause Utis
Yes, high blood glucose levels can raise the risk of a UTI. Like any other living organism, E. coli, a significant player in recurring UTIs, needs something to feed off of. High sugar levels are something that this bacteria loves. When you ingest sugar, your urine’s acid level becomes more hospitable for E. coli, enabling the infection to progress rapidly.
Recommended Reading: Is Equal Sugar Good For Diabetics
Why Do Diabetics Get Frequent Uti
First, people with diabetes may have poor circulation, which reduces the ability of white blood cells to travel in the body and fight off any kind of infection. Second, high blood glucose levels can also raise the risk of a UTI. And third, some people with diabetes have bladders that don’t empty as well as they should.
Diabetes And Utis: What You Should Know
More than 50% of women will have a urinary tract infection at some point in their lives. Women with type 2 diabetes may be at an even higher risk of UTI. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information , patients with type 2 diabetes experience more frequent and more severe UTIs. They also tend to have worse outcomes: the UTIs in diabetes patients are more often caused by resistant pathogens, meaning the infections are more difficult to treat.
Most important for people with diabetestype 1 or 2is to catch the UTI early. Diabetes patients can have a harder time fighting infection and are already at risk for kidney damage, which can become worse if the infection spreads.
Don’t Miss: How Do You Use Lantus Solostar Insulin Pen
Institutionalized Older Adults & Catheterized Patients
Similar to other populations, the diagnosis of symptomatic UTI in nursing home residents requires the presence of genitourinary symptoms in the setting of a positive urine culture. In older adults who are cognitively intact, the diagnosis of symptomatic UTI is relatively straightforward. However, nursing home residents often suffer from significant cognitive deficits, impairing their ability to communicate, and chronic genitourinary symptoms , which make the diagnosis of symptomatic UTI in this group particularly challenging. Furthermore, when infected, nursing home residents are more likely to present with nonspecific symptoms, such as anorexia, confusion and a decline in functional status fever may be absent or diminished . In the setting of atypical symptoms, providers are often faced with the challenge of differentiating a symptomatic UTI from other infections or medical conditions. The high prevalence of bacteriuria plus pyuria in this population often leads to the diagnosis of UTI. Although bacteriuria plus pyuria is necessary for diagnosis of a laboratory-confirmed UTI, alone it is not sufficient for making the diagnosis of symptomatic UTI. To date, universally accepted criteria for diagnosing UTI in this population do not exist, making it difficult for providers to distinguish a symptomatic UTI from other conditions in the presence of new nonspecific symptoms.
How The Urinary Tract Works
Urine is made by your two kidneys, one on each side of the tummy . Urine drains down tubes called ureters into the bladder. There it is stored and passed out through a tube called the urethra, when you go to the toilet.
In the average adult patient there should be a urine output of: 0.5-1 ml/kg/hr. This means that an average 70 kg man should produce 35-70 mls an hour. However urine output decreases in older patients and the target urine output should be 0.25-0.5 ml/kg/hr. This means that a 70 kg man who is aged over 65 years should produce 17.5-35 mls per hour.
Don’t Miss: How Long Does Thc Stay In A Diabetics System
Do You Think You May Have A Urinary Tract Infection
If youre experiencing any of the symptoms above, youll want to check in with your healthcare provider. Youll provide a urine sample that gets tested to understand whats going on. While providing a urine sample when it already hurts to pee doesnt sound pleasant, using Scarlet® can make the process a little less painful since your urine collection can happen at your home.
If You Have Diabetes It Is Twice As Likely You Will Develop A Utiwhy
There are many factors that elevate the risk for UTIs for people with diabetes. Common sense would tell us that higher blood sugars increase the risk for all infections.
Well, believe it or not, the jury is still out on that theory for some odd reason. I could not find any recent research anywhere on this theory or for that matter on urinary tract infections in people with diabetes. My hope is more research will be considered since the complications associated with these infections can be life threatening.
According to a study by Nitzan et al Urinary tract infections in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: review of prevalence, diagnosis and management, UTIs are most common and severe with complicated outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes. The study presents the reasons people with diabetes are at a greater risk for urinary tract infections which I will outline here:
Likely Causes of Urinary Tract Infections in People with Diabetes:
- Poor metabolic control
- Use of catheters
- Hospitalizations
Poor metabolic control is not completely understood as a cause of utis yet, so this is a great opportunity for researchers. The extra sugar in the urine builds up, causing the growth of extra bacteria which leads to the infection in the bladder.
We have already discussed a few of these, but lets discuss the ones we havent.
Also Check: Can High Glucose Cause Headaches
How To Help Your Loved One Avoid Utis
Do you give the older adult in your life cranberry juiceor probiotics to prevent a UTI? These products wont hurt them, but whether theyll help is unclear.
We dont have enough research to support their effectiveness in UTI prevention, although their medical benefits cant be ruled out completely, says Dr. Goldman.
Instead, he recommends these tried-and-true prevention strategies:
- Encourage sufficient fluid intake
- Promote genital and urinary hygiene
- Ask the doctor about low-dose vaginal cream for postmenopausal women
Dr. Goldman says researchers are also studying D-Mannose for UTI prevention. The supplement, which has few side effects, sticks to bladder receptors that normally attract the E. coli bacteria usually responsible for UTIs.
Researchers also believe D-Mannose may keep bad bacteria from colonizing the digestive tract, which can harbor the bacteria responsible for UTIs in women.
Following these tips should help your aging relative stay healthy, productive and out of the hospital.
Risk Factors For Developing Utis
Some people are at greater risk than others of developing UTIs. These include:
- women sexually active women are vulnerable, in part because the urethra is only four centimetres long and bacteria have only this short distance to travel from the outside to the inside of the bladder
- people with urinary catheters such as people who are critically ill, who cant empty their own bladder
- people with diabetes changes to the immune system make a person with diabetes more vulnerable to infection
- men with prostate problems such as an enlarged prostate gland that can cause the bladder to only partially empty
- babies especially those born with physical problems of the urinary system.
Also Check: How Much Do Diabetic Test Strips Sell For
Can Cranberries Really Help Prevent Utis
Cranberries contain a natural bioactive ingredient called proanthocyanidins that have been scientifically proven to be effective in maintaining a healthy urinary tract.
Unfortunately, most cranberry supplements don’t mention the volume of proanthocyanidins within their ingredients, which means there’s not enough to help maintain a healthy urinary tract..
9 Cranberry Pills = 1 Utiva Pill
500mg high dose cranberry capsules typically have less than 1% PACs . One Utiva pill has 240mg of cranberry with 15% PAC concentration = 36mg PACs!
Natural remedies can help with reducing UTIs. Although cranberries have been reviewed, it is important to check for 36mg of Proanthocyandins within the supplement. These are the active molecules from within cranberries that help to keep bacteria from adhering to your urinary tract and bladder wall. Given the impact that recurrent UTIs can have on a one’s life, patients should choose products that are supported by scientific evidence.
Dr. Colleen McDermott, Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive SurgeryMount Sinai Hospital, Toronto