Yeast Infections and Diabetes, the Unwelcome Guest

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I can name many things that go hand in hand, but yeast infections and diabetes- I could think of some better things…

With fluctuations in blood sugars or sub-par diabetes management, many issues may crop up with your health.  Unfortunately one is…Yeast.

What is a yeast infection?

Our bodies are alive with bacteria and yeasts that live in a harmonious balance with one another.  If  something sets that balance off, we can see infection occur.  In women, small amounts of yeast are always present in the vagina but when overgrowth happens an uncomfortable fungal infection sets in.

Vaginal yeast infections cause irritation and itchiness on the vagina and vulva in women.  Because men aren’t excluded from this, they may also experience similar symptoms under the belt.  A thick white bothersome discharge may be noticed from the vagina or penis.

Yeast infections may happen in children for various reasons as well.

“Yeast infections are very common.  About 75 percent of women have one during their lives.  And almost half of women have two or more vaginal yeast infections.”

“Many things can raise your risk of a vaginal yeast infection, such as:

• Stress
• Lack of sleep
• Illness
• Poor eating habits, including eating extreme amounts of sugary foods
• Pregnancy
• Having your period
• Taking certain medicines, including birth control pills, antibiotics, and steroids
• Diseases such as poorly controlled diabetes and HIV/AIDS
• Hormonal changes during your periods” ~  According to Womenshealth.com

What is the diabetes/ yeast infection connection?

Women that have diabetes will have fluctuations in their blood sugars.  There will be shifts in the amount of sugar present in vaginal fluids and also in the urine.  Yeast likes sugar/ glucose and proliferates freely in an environment that is moist, warm and has a high sugar content.  Men with elevated blood sugars will have a similar experience.

High blood sugars also alter the body’s ability to fight infection.  Yeast infections and diabetes have a direct correlation to diabetes control.  In fact, chronic yeast infections may raise a red flag for an intuitive provider to check a patients blood sugar to rule out undiagnosed diabetes.

On the flip side, having an undiagnosed and untreated yeast infection will increase blood sugars.  Once a yeast infection is treated blood sugars will improve and insulin needs may decrease.

How do you free yourself of yeast?

The treatment will vary for a yeast infection in men, women and children.

• Make an appointment with your doctor to be sure it is a yeast infection you are experiencing.  You may think you have a yeast infection when in fact you could have a bacterial infection or a sexually transmitted disease.  It is important to identify and diagnose before treatment.  You may also need a prescription not just an over the counter remedy.
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• Increase acidophilus in your diet (through dietary supplements and foods such as yogurt and miso soup).
• Take prescribed medicine which may be instilled in the vagina, on the labia, on the penis or a medication taken by mouth.
• Keep your bottom clean and as dry as possible laundering and drying undergarments well between uses.
• Don’t have sex with an active infection as it may pass partner to partner increasing its difficulty to treat.

With yeast infections and diabetes keeping your blood sugars in check is the best preventative medicine.