Is dehydration putting you at risk of these diabetes complications?

Drinking water is essential for good health. This is even more important in the summer months! As your body warms up, it starts to sweat as a way of self-cooling. If there is not enough water in your body then sweat cannot be produced and your body starts to overheat. When there is not enough water in the body, this is called dehydration. For people with diabetes, this can be especially dangerous and can increase the risk of certain complications. 

Hydration and blood glucose

Dehydration can raise blood sugar to dangerous levels. High blood sugar can cause damage to different parts of the body, especially small blood vessels (hands, feet and eyes), small nerves (that cause painful sensations) and kidneys.

As total body water decreases, this causes a higher concentration of sugar in the blood. To compensate, the kidneys will try to remove this excess sugar and put it into the urine. This process should make you thirsty can cause you to drink, but if not, then the body will take water from saliva, tears and the cells of your body to compensate.

Kidney damage

The kidneys keep us healthy by filtering waste and toxins from the blood and forcing them out of the body in urine. If there is not enough water in the blood then the kidneys do not function properly. If you have kidney disease dehydration can cause further damage or lead to kidney failure. Being dehydrated on a regular basis can cause permanent kidney damage.

Diabetic ketoacidosis

As dehydration decreases total body water, this increases the concentration of sugar in the blood. High blood sugar can increase blood ketones, which can rapidly cause diabetic ketoacidosis. If this condition is not treated immediately, it can lead to a diabetic coma. While diabetic ketoacidosis is more common in people with type 1 diabetes, it can still affect those with type 2.

To stay on top of your hydration and prevent dehydration, use this proven method at home and on the go! Use these three tips to stay hydrated and try these 5 high taste, low sugar drink recipes for summer!