Known as polydipsia, excessive thirst is a classic sign of type 2 diabetes. However, are you really suffering from the condition or do you need to drink more?
The easiest way to measure your water intake is to drink from bottled water – whether that’s in a glass, or from a water bottle.
No matter how you hydrate yourself (from the tap or from the bottle), many glasses come in different sizes nowadays.
How do you know if finishing off eight glasses really is equivalent to two litres – and how much do you really need anyway?
According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), “we need about 2.5 litres of water a day”.
By finishing off two one-litre bottles of water daily, we know we’re on the right path.
A cheaper alternative is to buy a 600ml water bottle; keeping track on whether you finish off four tap refills is key – definitely note it down.
Where does the body store water?
The European Food Information Council (EUFIC) explained one third of water it stored in our blood and between the cells.
The majority, however – two thirds – is stored inside the cells. Dehydrations can affect many bodily functions, namely:
- Body temperature
- Hormone regulation
- Energy expenditure stimulation
- Thickness of blood
- Skin moisture
- Cell longevity
- Positive digestion
- Cushion function for the spinal cord, brain and eyes
- Waste product elimination
The body constantly loses water through breath, sweat, urine and faeces, so it’s important to keep topped up.
In the brain, receptors measure blood consistency, releasing a hormone called vasopressin if it’s too thin.
Vasopressin works by retaining water in the kidneys and igniting the feeling of thirst.
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Another good way to keep tabs on whether you’re dehydrated is to look at the colour of your urine.
Pale yellow means your hydrated, but definitely drink some water if it’s dark yellow. The darker the urine, the more dehydrated you are.
In type 2 diabetes, dehydration is caused by high blood sugar levels, WebMD explained.
The kidneys work overtime trying to remove excess sugar from the bloodstream.
As it does so (through urine), fluid from your tissues are also excreted from the body.
This leaves you dehydrated and feeling thirsty – yet, this type of thirst doesn’t go away if you’re drinking around two litres of water daily.
Untreated type 2 diabetes can make it seem like an impossible task to quench your thirst.
Excessive thirst is usually accompanied with increased urination, stated the Mayo Clinic.
Other signs of type 2 diabetes include unexplained weight loss, blurred vision, slow-healing sores and tingling hands and feet.
Diabetes is a serious condition, so if you find yourself experiencing excessive thirst do contact your GP.
The sooner diabetes is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can begin – and the less likely you’ll have complications.
Complications of the condition include nerve damage, hearing impairment, and heart disease.
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