Are you drinking enough water? If you are diabetic, dehydration can be especially dangerous for you. It is also easier to get dehydrated because of diabetes.
Symptoms of dehydration (symptoms will vary depending on the person)
1. Thirst
2. Tiredness or weakness
3. Loss of breath or rapid breathing
4. Loss of appetite
5. Dark urine and/or lack of urine
6. Cramps
What dehydration does to your body
Hydration is important to most of your cells. It affects your blood sugars, heart, kidneys, and brain.
1. Water helps move the sugar in your blood to where it needs to be. If the sugar is not moved it will raise blood sugar levels. Higher blood sugar levels cause frequent urination, which can intensify the dehydration.
2. When a person is dehydrated the kidneys begin to hold on to urine. This keeps toxins in the kidneys and produces high blood pressure which further damages the kidneys.
3. When your brain is deprived of water it can cause anxiety, depression, and fatigue.
4. Alcohol consumption contributes to dehydration and a vicious circle can lead to alcohol abuse.
5. Weight gain can be a sign of dehydration because your constant thirst can be mistaken for hunger. If you are hungry all the time drink water before you decide to grab a snack. If drinking water takes some of the hunger pains away, you are probably dehydrated.
6. Severe dehydration can actually cause seizures and death.
How to prevent dehydration
1. Before any exercise drink a few glasses of water. Depending on how much exercise you are planning, continue drinking during exercise.
2. As a diabetic it is important to drink water (not pop, tea, alcohol, or juice) every time you eat. This will help reduce your blood sugars and allow your kidneys to function properly.
3. Remember that alcohol consumption will dehydrate you. You must replace 2-3 times the amount of alcohol you drink with water.
4. When your body is showing any unusual symptoms (like headaches or pain), treat with water first to see if you can relieve them without over compensating with too much.
5. As with diabetes, the signs of dehydration will be different for everyone. There is no way to determine how your body will show the signs. Drink a regular amount of water (at least a glass with each meal) each day.
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