This content originally appeared on On a regular basis Health. Republished with permission.
By Stephanie Bucklin and Jessica Migala
Medically Reviewed by Kacy Church, MD
All of us know the way rotten dehydration feels. Not only can we feel sluggish and cranky once we don’t get enough water, but on this state the body isn’t in a position to pump enough blood to the center, brain, kidneys, and muscles, says Robert Rizza, MD, an emeritus professor of drugs at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Rochester, Minnesota. In consequence, your organs don’t run well, Dr. Rizza says. There’s even some evidence associating mild to moderate dehydration with impaired blood vessel function and blood pressure regulation, even in healthy people, as described in one review.
Health Risks of Dehydration for People Managing Type 2 Diabetes
For individuals with type 2 diabetes, dehydration may be especially dangerous. That’s because dehydration causes blood pressure to fall and the body to secrete stress hormones like norepinephrine and epinephrine, which can raise blood sugar, Rizza explains. When you might have high blood sugar, you’ll often must go to the lavatory more, notes Mayo Clinic, contributing to further dehydration and a vicious cycle.
In one study, researchers checked out a small sample of men who took an oral glucose tolerance test in various hydration statuses. They found that for individuals with type 2 diabetes, going only three days with subpar water intake (17 to 34 ounces per day) impaired blood sugar response. The effect of dehydration was likely as a result of an increased level of the stress hormone cortisol, which prompts the discharge of glucose. Individuals who consumed an amount consistent with the recommendations for water intake — around 100 ounces — had higher blood sugar control.
More research on the results of chronic dehydration on these metabolic measures is required. But individuals with diabetes are encouraged to devour the amounts set forth by the National Academy of Sciences, which is 91 ounces per day for ladies and 125 ounces per day for men, with a few of that coming from water-rich foods like vegetables and fruit.
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Can Dehydration Affect Type 2 Diabetes Risk?
Although dehydration can result in serious health issues, not much research has checked out whether chronic dehydration — and the associated higher blood sugar — may increase the risk of prediabetes and full-blown type 2 diabetes.
“There have been a wide range of things dehydration has been suggested to contribute to, but not diabetes,” Rizza says.
But there could also be a connection, says Anna Simos, MPH, a licensed diabetes care and education specialist (CDCES) with the Stanford Health Care Diabetes Education and Prevention Program in Palo Alto, California. Indeed, in keeping with a study that monitored healthy adults over nine years, people’s self-reported water intake was inversely related to a risk of developing high blood sugar. Which means individuals who reported drinking lower than half a liter of water per day were more vulnerable to elevated blood sugar than individuals who reported greater than 1 liter.
Scientists theorize that dehydration can result in a rise within the hormone vasopressin, which prompts the kidneys to retain water and the liver to provide blood sugar, potentially affecting the body’s ability to control insulin over time. (One paper, nevertheless, noted that there’s insufficient evidence linking various health conditions with dehydration, including type 2 diabetes. The one condition that has been shown to be attributable to dehydration? Kidney stones.)
The underside line: More research is required to totally understand the connection between dehydration and diabetes, but hydration likely “keeps blood glucose levels a little bit more stable,” Simos says.
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How one can Stay Hydrated if You’re Managing Type 2 Diabetes
Even when scientists still have questions on exactly how dehydration affects individuals with type 2 diabetes, staying hydrated is clearly vital for good health.
So how will you be sure that you’re getting enough water to administer diabetes? Rizza and Simos offer the next suggestions.
Have some salt — but not an excessive amount of. An excessive amount of salt may be bad for blood pressure, Rizza says, but you do need some to take care of proper hydration. If you eat salt, notes MedlinePlus, you help stabilize your electrolytes, that are charged substances that regulate essential functions in your body, helping you stay hydrated. When you have already got hypertension, talk along with your doctor about how much salt to devour.
Check your blood glucose levels in extreme heat, and drink water in the event that they are elevated. When it’s hot, it’s easier to grow to be dehydrated, in keeping with Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Staying well hydrated will help reduce your blood glucose levels, which helps you manage the hormone insulin,” Simos explains. And be sure that that your blood glucose test strips and insulin are stored in a cool, dry place, she says, in order that they don’t lose their potency and accuracy.
Reach for hydrating snacks in the event you’re hungry. For instance, select a cold piece of melon or a number of frozen grapes, Simos says. Drinking a glass of water isn’t the one approach to get your fix.
Above all, listen to your thirst signals. Ultimately, ensuring you’re well hydrated will enable you higher manage type 2 diabetes, Simos says. “When you’re already dehydrated, you’re going to be liable to having high blood sugar since you don’t have as much fluid running around in your blood to hydrate and keep that equilibrium with glucose molecules,” Simos explains. She stresses this actual fact to her own patients. “I would like to maintain them hydrated since it keeps their blood glucose levels a little bit more stable,” she says.
RELATED: 13 Genius Hacks That Will Help You Drink More Water
Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking
- Watso JC, Farquhar WB. Hydration Status and Cardiovascular Function. Nutrients. August 2019.
- Diabetes Symptoms: When Diabetes Symptoms Are a Concern. Mayo Clinic. June 27, 2023.
- Johnson EC, Bardis CN, Jansen LT, et al. Reduced Water Intake Deteriorates Glucose Regulation in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes. Nutrition Research. July 2017.
- Report Sets Dietary Intake Levels for Water, Salt, and Potassium to Maintain Health and Reduce Chronic Disease Risk. National Academy of Sciences. February 11, 2004.
- Roussel R, Fezeu L, Bouby N, et al. Low Water Intake and Risk for Latest-Onset Hyperglycemia. Diabetes Care. December 1, 2011.
- Armstrong LE. Challenges of Linking Chronic Dehydration and Fluid Consumption to Health Outcomes. Nutrition Reviews. November 2012.
- Fluid and Electrolyte Balance. MedlinePlus. June 20, 2016.
- Dehydration and Heat Stroke. Johns Hopkins Medicine.