When it comes to living with diabetes, water and hydration become important. It makes up about 60 percent of the human body and covers 71 percent of the Earth’s surface. Of course, it’s water, and it affects practically every part of our life.
However, certain medical diseases, such as diabetes, enhance the significance of water and hydration significantly.Â
What’s the short answer? When blood sugar levels rise above 200, diabetics are more prone to dehydration because they urinate more frequently. That’s a ridiculously high number.
The long answer, on the other hand, is a little more complicated.
Make sure your drinking water is cleaned by a water filter or other means. Before you sip your water, learn more about diabetes and hydration.
What exactly is Diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus (type 1, type 2, and others) develops when two things happen:
- Type 1 Diabetes (or other uncommon forms) – When the body does not create enough insulin. Juvenile Diabetes is another name for this condition.
- Type 2 Diabetes (more prevalent) occurs when the body is unable to properly utilize insulin. Insulin resistance, also known as “insulin resistance syndrome,” is a condition that develops later in life after the pancreas has been generating too much insulin for too long and the body has become exhausted.
But what’s the most important factor in keeping your blood sugar in check and staying healthy? Water that is free of contaminants. Here’s how to do it.
Boost up for hydration
People who drank more than 34 ounces of water per day were less likely to acquire high blood sugar than those who drank fewer than 16 ounces, according to recent research of 3,600 participants in France, including those with and without diabetes.
The research took nine years and covered a lot of ground. It took into account each individual’s age, gender, weight, level of activity, and amount of non-water liquids ingested.
Whether you’re diabetic or not, and regardless of your age, the amount of water you drink daily has an impact on a variety of aspects of your physical well-being, including your blood sugar.
It makes intuitive sense. When blood sugar levels are too high, the body attempts to dilute the glucose in the blood. Water also aids rehydration as the body strives to eliminate excess glucose through urine.
As a result, someone with diabetes can employ hydration as a means of lowering and controlling their glucose levels.
There’s also a biological explanation for why hydration lowers blood sugar levels. Vasopressin is an anti-diuretic hormone that indicates whether the body should release or retain water.
Vasopressin levels that are too high might cause significant complications in diabetics. When the body is dehydrated, vasopressin causes the kidneys to stop producing urine and the liver to release blood sugar.
This is a dilemma because, while the body tries to eliminate excess blood sugar through the urine, the kidneys struggle to generate enough pee to complete the flush. It’s worth the extra trips to the bathroom to keep vasopressin levels in check.
How much water should diabetics drink daily?
There is no hard and fast rule regarding how much water you should drink, but we can follow some guidelines.
The most crucial piece of advice is to always keep water on hand and drink anytime you are thirsty. You don’t have to force yourself to drink water to achieve a certain goal, but you should strive to drink water throughout the day.
Even if you don’t feel thirsty, a few sips of water per hour will help you stay hydrated. Because the thirst reflex isn’t always accurate, especially in those with diabetes, it’s preferable to drink a little water ahead of time than risk dehydration.
Drinking 8 glasses of water each day is recommended for non-diabetics, thus diabetics should take this advice to heart. While our insulin-producing pals require adequate hydration as well, the effects of moderate dehydration on those of us with diabetes are more visible in our blood sugar levels.
8 glasses of water equal around 2 liters of water per day (67 ounces or just over half a gallon). It may seem daunting, but by selecting a medium-sized reusable beverage container and calculating how many times per day you must fill it to achieve 2 liters, you may make it seem more manageable.
Make sure your water comes from a clean source or filter first your tap water at home
If you’re exercising or enduring the summer heat, that number swiftly rises. Even a healthy person’s water requirements will vary, especially if you’re sweating much while exercising or if you’re outside on a hot day.
On a hot day or during exercise, healthy people should drink two to three cups of water each hour to compensate for water loss through sweating.
Who should keep their water consumption in check?
Drinking too much water can be dangerous. It’s possible that drinking too much water may taxing your body, depending on your health.
Because of certain ailments and drugs, you should consult your doctor about the proper amount of water to drink each day:
- Heart problems
- Whether you have kidney disease or another renal ailment
- Problems with the liver
- Thyroid disease
- Some antidepressants
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Opioid pain relievers
- Medications that make you retain water
Stay hydrated by drinking water.
Drinking plenty of water will help you maintain a healthy blood sugar level. It aids in the removal of excess sugar from the body through the urine, as well as the prevention of dehydration.
Drinking more water reduced the risk of acquiring high blood sugar levels.
Regularly drinking water rehydrates the blood, decreases blood sugar levels, and may lower the risk of diabetes.
The best beverages to drink are water and other non-caloric liquids. Sugar-sweetened beverages elevate blood glucose levels, cause weight gain, and increase the risk of diabetes.
Make sure your water is clean by using a home water filter or by other means. Diabetes-free living can be achieved by drinking clean and safe water.