Managing Diabetes and Incontinence: Tips For Finding Relief And Independence

Being diagnosed with diabetes mellitus is already an experience that can turn your life upside down. From glucose checks to medications and insulin injections, your mind is constantly caught up in managing your condition. However, nobody tells you about the increased risk for other conditions like urinary incontinence.

Yes, most diabetic women are at a higher risk of developing urinary incontinence (UI), and they don't even know it. Fortunately, it's not the end of the world, and there are plenty of ways to relieve your symptoms and regain your confidence.

At Jude, we're serious about your bladder health - and you should be, too. That's why we've created this simple guide on how to manage diabetes-related UI.

The Connection Between Diabetes And Bladder Health

Living with diabetes can bring about a unique set of challenges, from dealing with unexplained changes in blood sugar levels to constantly worrying about what foods you're consuming. An additional challenge that often gets overlooked is the connection between diabetes and incontinence.

Urinary incontinence (UI) is the accidental or unintentional passing of urine, and it's more common among women living with diabetes than you may think. In fact, there are several ways that diabetes contributes to incontinence symptoms:

Nerve damage

One of the most common ways that diabetes causes UI is through diabetic neuropathy. Simply put, this is nerve damage caused by high blood sugar levels. Since it can affect the nerves throughout your body, it can also damage the nerves that control your bladder, leading to something known as a neurogenic bladder.

Additionally, when the nerves in your bladder are damaged, it can interfere with your bladder's ability to sense when it's full. This can lead to urinary retention. As a result, this can potentially lead to overflow incontinence - when the bladder overfills and urine leaks out unintentionally. Plus, the nerve damage may also make it difficult for your bladder muscle to contract properly, which means you may not empty your bladder fully.

Diabetes-related nerve damage can also lead to overactive bladder or urge incontinence. Diabetic neuropathy damages the nerves that communicate between the bladder and the brain, disrupting normal bladder function and leading to involuntary contractions, resulting in increased urgency and frequency of urination.

Additionally, high blood sugar levels can make us produce more urine, contributing to even more frequent urination and urgency

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

If you're living with diabetes, you probably already know that you're prone to urinary tract infections. This is due to several factors, including higher glucose or sugar levels in your pee that may encourage bacterial growth. Nerve damage may also cause incomplete bladder emptying, which leads to urine retention and an increased risk of infections.

Unfortunately, UTIs can either worsen existing incontinence or mimic urinary incontinence symptoms in diabetic women. UTIs can make you feel a sudden and often urgent need to pee, which may contribute to pre-existing urge incontinence . The sudden urge to pee may also cause you to leak urine for the first time, which is why it can closely resemble urge incontinence.To gain clarity, if you have any symptoms of a UTI such as a new increase in urinary frequency (number of toilet trips), pain when passing urine, new onset of incontinence you must seek medical advice from your doctor to receive appropriate tests. UTIs often need rapid treatment to prevent them from causing complications.

Mediation side effects

Some medications you're taking to manage your diabetes may also have side effects that can impact your bladder control. For example, certain diuretics prescribed to diabetic patients with high blood pressure can increase the amount of urine your body produces. As a result, it may feel as though you need to go more often, which may lead to urinary urgency and incontinence.

Weight

For some type 2 diabetics, weight management is a real concern and being overweight is also a major risk factor for stress incontinence. This type of UI happens when activities like coughing, laughing, sneezing, or exercising put pressure on your bladder and cause urine leaks.

Extra weight around your abdomen can also put additional pressure on your bladder and the muscles that support it. In turn, this can weaken your pelvic floor muscles, which are essential for bladder control. When they're affected, it's more likely that you'll experience stress urinary incontinence.

The Symptoms Of Urinary Incontinence

Female urinary incontinence can affect your day-to-day life in various ways. However, recognising the symptoms is the first step toward managing it effectively. Here are some of the things you may experience:

Urge incontinence

Urge incontinence is easy to identify since it causes the sudden and often incredibly intense need to pee. You'll probably experience an urgent need to get to a loo - and quickly. In some cases, the urge can be so strong that you may not be able to find a bathroom on time, leading to leaks.

Along with a strong urge to pee, you might experience leaks even when you are able to get to a toilet in time. This type of incontinence can be quite distressing because the urge to pee is unpredictable and uncontrollable, and it can happen more frequently than you'd like.

We understand the embarrassment and anxiety that can go along with leaks. In fact, you may even experience bladder troubles because of your anxiety as well. But just remember: You aren't alone. Plus, there are ways to manage the condition to help you take back your life and rebuild your confidence (but more on this later...).

Overflow incontinence

Overflow incontinence happens when the bladder doesn’t empty completely, causing it to become overly full and leak urine. This can occur due to weak bladder muscles, nerve damage, or blockages in the urinary tract. People with this issue often notice they have to urinate frequently, struggle with a weak stream, or feel like they haven't emptied their bladder fully. Because the bladder is so full, small amounts of urine may leak out unexpectedly.

Stress incontinence

Stress incontinence happens when you experience urine leakage during activities that put stress or pressure on your bladder. For example, you may notice leaking when you're exercising, lifting heavy objects, or performing any other physical activities that put strain on your abdominal muscles.

This type of UI is common in menopausal women due to low estrogen levels.

Another common situation where stress urinary incontinence can occur is when you're laughing, coughing or sneezing. The pressure from a hearty laugh or persistent cough can lead to unintentionally leaking urine if your pelvic floor muscles are already weakened.

Mixed incontinence

Mixed incontinence is exactly what it sounds like. It mixes the symptoms of stress and urge incontinence and can be more than a little uncomfortable to deal with in daily life.

Basically, it's like having an overactive bladder that you just can't get rid of. You can, however, manage these symptoms and find some relief using home remedies. Just don't forget to schedule a visit to your GP, since you may need tests to help diagnose your condition and you may also need additional treatments like medications.

5 Tips For Managing Urinary Incontinence To Improve Your Quality Of Life

Managing UI as a result of diabetes can be tough and it is best to seek advice from a doctor for a personalised health plan. Generally speaking, most people can find relief, with the right combination of management techniques. The best tips we have for managing UI include:

1. Diet

Most women aren't aware that certain foods and drinks can irritate your bladder and make your UI symptoms even worse. Ideally, if you're experiencing UI, you'll want to reduce your intake of these foods, which include:

• Coffee and alcohol

• Spicy foods

• Artificial sweeteners

• Acidic foods like tomatoes

Rather replace these foods (and balance your diet) with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to soothe your bladder. This may also help you regulate your blood sugar levels, which is an important factor in managing your UI.

2. Pelvic floor exercises

Better bladder control starts with strengthening your bladder muscles. One surefire way to do this is to practice pelvic floor exercises like Kegels, which target the muscles in and around the bladder. It is best to do these under the supervision of a pelvic floor physiotherapist who can give you personalised advice about your pelvic floor.

When these pelvic floor muscles are stronger, it's much easier to hold your pee and can effectively reduce the risk of leaks. Although this isn't a cure for UI, you'll be less likely to have accidents and will have more time to find a bathroom when nature calls.

3. Bladder training

Bladder training can be an incredibly effective way to 'rewire' the brain-bladder connection. Essentially, it involves longer trips to the bathroom if you have overactive bladder or urge incontinence. This teaches your bladder to retain your pee for longer and can potentially lessen the urgency you're experiencing.

Of course, it's important to remember that you shouldn't hold your pee for too long. Otherwise, it can cause bladder infections and increase the chances of leaks. That’s why bladder retraining should be done under the supervision of a healthcare professional.

4. Medications

In some cases, your GP may prescribe medications to help you manage your UI symptoms. This is usually done for mild to severe urge incontinence.

These medications are designed to relax the bladder muscles, meaning they won't contract as frequently. Since the contractions are what cause the urge to head to the loo, they can also help reduce the number of bathroom trips you're making. In turn, they can give you some much-needed peace of mind - especially at night!

5. Use specialised UI products

If you're experiencing daily leaks, it may be time to stock up on incontinence supplies such as incontinence pads or leak-proof pants.

These products are designed to be soft and comfortable and absorb any urine leaks throughout the day. But the best part is that you can confidently wear them anytime and anywhere since they're ultra-discreet and made for all-day wear.

Alternatively, you can invest in bladder support supplements, which are designed to reduce the number of leaks you experience. Not only does this boost your quality of life, but it can also improve your sleep if you struggle with multiple late-night bathroom trips. Bear in mind, it is important to seek advice from your doctor before starting any new supplement so they can ensure it is suitable for you in the context of your medical history.

FAQs

What are the symptoms of a diabetic bladder?

Diabetes can have no symptoms but some people may experience some symptoms.A diabetic bladder usually comes with pretty tell-tale symptoms that include:

• Peeing more frequently

• Discomfort in the lower abdomen bladder

• Needing to pee more urgently, even if you've already used the bathroom

• Increased thirst, despite adequate hydration

If you notice these symptoms it may be time to chat with your GP to get a formal diagnosis and treatment plan. The sooner you go, the sooner you can nip this pesky problem in the bud. Bear in mind, some of these symptoms may be caused by other conditions so keep an open mind when seeing your GP about these symptoms.

Should I be worried if I can't hold my pee?

Urine leaks aren't always a cause for concern, especially as you age. However, it's important to seek medical treatment when this happens so you can determine the root cause of the problem. That way, you can treat both the cause and the symptoms.

Final Thoughts

We understand that dealing with UI can give you the blues. But with our management tips and the help of your GP, it doesn't have to. Just like your diabetes, this condition is manageable with the right support. So don't be afraid to open up to your doctor about what you're experiencing. When you do, you're more likely to find the relief you're after.

Jude’s clinically proven supplements give you better bladder and pelvic floor control, helping you sleep through the night and regain the freedom to live life on your own terms. With just one capsule morning and night, you'll have relief from need-to-go urgency in just 12 weeks.