Those who have experienced dehydration will tell you that there is nothing fun about it. Not only do dehydrated individuals become a lot more cranky, but they also feel a lot more sluggish. This is because the heart isn't able to pump enough blood throughout the body, causing a massive slow down. Unfortunately, the news only gets worse for those with type 2 diabetes. It has been found that additional health risks come when dehydration is paired with type 2 diabetes.
If you're a type 2 diabetic individual, here's what you need to know about how dehydration will affect you and what you can do to stay hydrated:
How Does Dehydration Affect Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes?
It should be evident that every individual on this planet needs to stay hydrated. While one can technically live without food for up to five days, one cannot live without water for more than three days. However, it should come as no surprise that individuals with type 2 diabetes have to be extra careful about the amount of water they consume and the amount of water their bodies retain.
How so? There are a few different things to consider.
For starters, it is important to keep in mind that type 2 diabetes is a disease that results in the body producing too much sugar. In turn, an insulin imbalance is created, which makes it especially important for individuals with type 2 diabetes to drink enough water to ensure that the insulin in their bodies is always on an even keel. In some cases, it may be necessary to drink one to two litres of water a day.
Due to their discharge of excess sugars, individuals with type 2 diabetes are also at increased risk for urinary tract infections. When an infection is present, it is crucial to drink plenty of water to ensure that the body stays hydrated. Not to mention, a full bladder will make it easy to urinate and prevent the bacteria from spreading.
What Must Be Done to Stay Hydrated?
If you're a type 2 diabetic individual, there are a few things that you need to do to ensure that you are properly hydrated.
First, you will want to increase your water intake. If your doctor has told you that you need to increase your water intake due to diabetes, you will want to make sure that you're drinking at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water each day. If you work out, you should be drinking one cup of water for every 20 minutes you spend on the treadmill or elliptical machine.
While you may want to increase the amount of water you drink each day, you will want to be particularly careful to avoid drinking too much water, which can be harmful to your health.
It is also a good idea to make sure that you're drinking water with no additional additives. This is because these additives—such as sodium, sugars, and flavourings — can decrease the amount of water that your body absorbs. However, you will want to be sure that you are consuming other healthy beverages, such as low-fat or non-fat milk, containing essential minerals and vitamins.
Conclusion
It should come as no surprise that drinking enough water to be properly hydrated is incredibly important to the health of all individuals, as well as individuals with type 2 diabetes. While staying adequately hydrated may sound easy enough, many individuals struggle with hydration simply because they don't know how to stay hydrated. If you're struggling to stay hydrated and need some additional help, you should contact your primary care doctor to determine whether it is necessary to speak with a registered dietitian.
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