Polydipsia, a persistent sensation of extreme thirst, is commonly associated with diabetes.
Extreme thirst is a well-known symptom of undiagnosed diabetes, but for many reasons, polydipinesia can occur in existing diabetic patients.
In this article, we will investigate the relationship between diabetes and polydipsia and what you can do if you are struggling with this condition.
What is polydipsia?
Polydipsia is a medical term that means extreme or excessive thirst.
Thirst is the normal feeling that lets you know that your fluids are off balance and that you should drink something. However, the persistent sensation of thirst may not be normal, and may be a sign of a medical condition, especially if you are already drinking plenty of liquids.
If polydipsia leads someone to drink excess liquid and quench their thirst, it can also lead to polyuria, a medical term when a person is producing excess urine.
But what is the amount of liquid intake considered polydipsia? Generally speaking, drinking 5-6 liters of liquid per day and continuing to feel thirsty will be considered polydipsia.
What causes polydipsia and extreme thirst?
Polydipsia is a condition in several conditions, including:
- Undiagnosed diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, and prediabetes can all cause polydipsia
- Hyperglycemia in people who have already been diagnosed with diabetes
- Diabetes, a rare condition that is unrelated to diabetes. Diabetes does not affect blood sugar levels, but the kidneys do not concentrate urine properly, causing polydipinesia and polyuria
- Acute dehydration
- Some behavioral health conditions, including certain anxiety disorders
- Certain severe kidney damage or disease, such as renal cystic disease, liver disease, or heart failure
- Serious infections, including sepsis
- Electrolyte imbalances, especially hypokalemia (low concentrations of potassium in the blood)
In addition to diagnosable medical conditions, temporary extreme thirst can also be caused by loss of fluid from diarrhea or vomiting, or sweating, especially when the temperature is high.
Many people also experience it from dietary factors, such as excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption and eating very salty meals.
Pregnancy and some prescription drugs can also cause extreme thirst.
Some people experience polydipsia at night when the bedroom is too hot or because of nose congestion or breathing through the mouth when sleeping through the nose.
Many factors and conditions can lead to excessive thirst, but if that thirst has been going on for several days and drinking enough liquids is not aid, we recommend consulting your doctor or healthcare provider.
Diabetes and polydipsia
Excessive thirst is one of the main warning signs of diabetes and is one of the first symptoms that a person notices before being diagnosed.
For this reason, polydipsia of unknown cause should not be ignored.
The reason why people feel thirsty and thirsty is because hyperglycemia (with hyperglycemia levels) often makes them thirsty.
When someone’s blood sugar levels are high, their kidneys have to do an extra work to absorb the excess sugar circulating in the blood. Much of this excess sugar is also washed away from the body in the urine. The body must pull liquid from organs and tissues to achieve this, but doing so leaves the dehydrated person behind and throws away the body’s normal liquid balance.
Like most other organisms, humans need to keep their fluid levels within a very narrow range to maintain their health. When someone is dehydrated to help tissue give up excess fluid and wash away excess sugar, the brain detects imbalances and causes a sensation of thirst.
If someone’s blood sugar remains high, their kidneys will continue to try to drain excess sugar. This means that dehydration will continue, fluid levels will not return to normal and you may continue to experience extreme thirst.
However, with the help of a medical professional, blood sugar levels can be placed under control. This usually resolves excessive thirst fairly quickly.
Depending on the type of diabetes someone has, doctors and other healthcare providers will prescribe a combination of drugs (such as injectable insulin or oral metformin) and suggest subsequent diet, exercise, and behavioral guidelines.
Manual “finger” glucose tests or continuous glucose monitors may also be prescribed to help diabetics adjust their medication and diet to avoid high or hypoglycemia.
A hemoglobin A1C blood test could also be ordered to track average blood glucose over three months.
All these tools help diabetics avoid hyperglycemia levels and the often resulting symptoms like polydipinesia.
After returning blood sugar to normal ranges, most people with diabetes will soon find that excessive thirst will disappear.
Is polydipsia a symptom of diabetic ketosidosis?
High normal blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) can cause polydipsia. Long-term or very high blood glucose levels can lead to diabetic ketosidosis (DKA).
Excessive thirst and excessive urination are common early symptoms of diabetic ketosidosis.
If you are diagnosed with diabetes, keep an eye on your blood sugar levels and be aware of DKA symptoms.
If you think you are in DKA, it is important to seek medical care immediately.
If you have diabetes, how can you deal with excessive thirst?
For most people, the key to relieving polydipsia is to put your blood sugar levels within the normal range.
If you have diabetes, it is important to drink enough liquid to rehydrate yourself to stop feeling overly thirsty. It is also important to safely restore blood sugar levels to the normal range of about 80-130 mg/dL unless you eat them very recently.
When drinking body fluids and hydrating yourself, it is best to avoid drinks with added carbohydrates and sugar (unless your blood sugar levels are low).
Preventing blood sugar levels from staying high for a long period of time and safely returning to normal ranges when they rise is key to preventing excessive thirst from diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are in the normal range and you continue to feel excessive thirst after drinking a large amount of liquid, we recommend consulting your doctor or healthcare provider.
Conclusion
Polydipsia, or excessive thirst, is something that diabetics often experience before diagnosis, but can also occur after diagnosis if blood glucose levels are high, if a person belongs to diabetic ketosidosis.
Dehydration, liquid imbalances, and electrolyte imbalances can all contribute to polydipinesia, all of which can result in blood glucose levels being out of normal range.
It is the best step to rehydrate yourself by drinking a large amount of liquid and carefully managing your blood sugar levels, and preventing serious or long-term hyperglycemia.
Many conditions and other factors can cause someone to over-thirst, but that sensation lasts for several days and if drinking liquids and keeping your blood sugar levels within range is not aid, it is best to talk to your doctor or healthcare provider immediately.
