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Bladder Damage From UTI & Diabetes?

Sirzy

Sirzy

Well-Known Member
Messages
266
Location
Glasgow
Type of diabetes
Other
Treatment type
Insulin
I was initially diagnosed with diabetes when I went to my GP with a horrific UTI, I was given antibiotics for it, which seemed to mostly deal with it, but since then I've been back countless times with what I thought were UTIs even though my bg levels are very tightly controlled (between mid 4s and 6), and have been given more antibiotics which have never helped.

I've suspected for a while that I may have bladder damage caused by the UTI (called Interstitial Cystitis), and I was wondering if anybody else who suffered with UTIs before diagnosis also ended up with this condition and if diabetes is related to this problem with or without UTIs?

It's really painful and as certain food and drink can make it worse, my diet is now even more restricted than it was when I was just following a low carb diabetes diet. I'm currently only eating fish, veg, eggs and water as most other things set it off. I'd be really grateful to hear from anybody else who's dealing with this, as I'm unsure if I should go to my GP for medication, or if I should just get on with it, and see if the diet helps. :?
 
hi Sirzy. I was initially diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 25 because I had a UTI. I was told I shouldn't have had a UTI at that age. Then they found other precursors that I had which they believe caused early type 2 diabetes for me. But since then I have had a lot of UTI's and kidney infections. I've been hospitalised a few times for these too as my heart rate and blood pressure was way out of control. I've had a bad run on health all round really.... but my family keep commenting that they wonder if all the antibiotics that I've had has done any damage to me. I don't really know. But I had an average fo 20 weeks worth of antibiotics per year over about 4 years or so. My doctor insists I have to have them. I've noticed since having diabetes I've had a lot of infections in general... even a rare strain of infection only found in immuno-compromised patients (as my doctor described it). So these days I make sure I drink a lot of water and I am a bit OCD about cleanliness and I wash my hands and use paper towels to open doors and things just so I don't catch anyones elses bugs. But as for bladder damage... I think I'm ok..... although I have to be so careful.
 
Did you have a urine sample analysed Sirzy?

I had a nasty UTI a couple of months back, the first lot of antibiotics mostly cleared it up nut not entirely and I had to return to the docs and have another course of antibiotics, my infection was caused by an e-coli bug which I was told was a common cause of UTI's.

I have had many many courses of antibiotics over the last 5 years due to my lung disease, every time I get even a cold or a sniffle I have to take antibiotics to keep my lungs clear and am beginning to think I am becoming immune to some of the antibiotics, although it could also just be a diabetic thing with infections taking longer to heal :cry:

Either way I hope I never get another UTI, not nice at all :thumbdown:
 
UTIs really are one of the most painful things to have to deal with aren't they?! I think this was my first one (although I was hospitilized at about 6 or 7 with a bladder infection, i don't remember much about it though).

The problem I'm dealing with now is definately not a UTI, I've had lots of samples tested, but they always come back clear (although during the wait for the test results the dr will have given me yet more antibiotics that don't help).

I have noticed that I react to certain foods (acidic stuff, particularly sweeteners, soya, and cheese), and eventually looked up my symptoms and came across IC. It does seem to usually be trigged by a UTI (it's basically a damaged bladder lining), from what I've read, and I seem to have similar symptoms, like the reactions to certain foods, continual pelvic pain, etc. I suppose I should really see my GP again and ask to see a urologist :(

It's just alot to deal with at the mo, on top of the diabetes, plus I've just been diagnosed with MIDD diabetes which causes deafness, a fast progression to insulin, and heart and kidney problems. Although, to be honest, it's the constant bladder pain and the very restricted diet that is getting me down at the minute.

Sorry, this has turned into a bit of a pity post, and from reading your posts and others on the forum, it seems that most people here have other health issues to deal with apart from the diabetes, it just feels so overwhelming sometimes. Last summer I was perfectly healthy (apart from mild asthma), and now, within 6 months all of this! :crazy:

Some days feel very dark at the moment, I just feel like throwing the towel in :(
 
hi Sirzy.... yes, you're right.... it can be hard. I often think I hardly have a life compared to my friends and family around my age. One thing I dislike the most is that my mind is constantly having to focus on something to do with my health and I just don't feel free to do what I please.... so frustrating! I was just telling a friend just now that I'm so **** tired most of the time and I am not even doing half the things I used to do socially... including visiting some of my family as regularly as I used to. It's just plain hard work when you're not feeling 100%. I hope you can get things sorted soon... referral to a urologist sounds like a good idea. I hope your GP agrees and does this for you.... and you get some answers. I'm still on medical merry-go-round myself with trying to get answers.... just pesevere! :)
 
Sirzy said:
I suppose I should really see my GP again and ask to see a urologist
Click to expand...

I think you are right and asking for a referral to a specialist is the right way to go.

Good luck, hope you can get to the bottom of this and get it sorted, sooner rather than later :thumbup:
 
Thanks very much for the replies :)

I really know what you mean mep when you say you're always having to focus on your health. I don't feel like me anymore, just a list of ailments, and I'm constantly thinking and worrying about it. I'm so sick and tired off it all, tired off having to think about whether what I eat will either end up with me in days of pain or with high blood sugars :(

I think I'm just going through a bit of a low phase, my boyfriend was saying recently that he couldn't believe how well I've coped with it all, I've been really enthusiastic about low carbing, and trying lots of recipes out, but I've kind of sunk into a bit of a depression this past month, the bladder thing has sort of been the last straw.

You're both right though, I need to get this checked out as soon as I can. Hopefully you'll be on the mend soon to mep.
 
thanks Sirzy :D Wishing us all good health as we all deserve it! I can understand how you feel as I have my 'down' days where I think I just may go insane if this health stuff doesn't go away. Also apparently we're more prone to depression as diabetics.... but I saw a psychologist end of last year for a bit for my stomach problem and I mentioned to her that if I'm down at all at any point it's because I just feel aweful and I'm not physically functioning properly. I want to get back into cardio and weight training... and I want to be able to go places without getting stares and unwanted comments from people. I can relate when you say you don't feel like you anymore as I sometimes feel the same way. At least know you're not alone at all and others can relate to what you are going through.... keep up your positive attitude as it helps you to recover too. :)
 
Thanks mep :)

I am very up and down at the moment, more down than up recently. But Hopefully things will turn around for us both soon, I think this forum really helps, just knowing that other people understand what you're going through is a real comfort on the bad days.
 
Sirzy, bladder infections are no fun, thats for sure, poor you (((Sirzy)))

I wonder if you have seen this forum, whether you might get some more support and help specifically for bladder problems? http://www.ic-network.com/forum/

I really do hope that you feel better very soon x x
 
Thanks WhitbyJet :)

I've had a look at this site before, and I found one based in the UK recently which I posted on today, hopefully I might get some advice about this there.

I was just wondering, as many people get diagnosed with diabetes after having a UTI, if IC was more common amongst diabetics. Just feeling a bit unlucky with this and the MIDDS at the mo.

I'm going to see my GP next Friday though (the earliest appointment I could get!), so hopefully she'll know more about this or can send me to see a urologist if she can't deal with it.
 
Sirzy, I used to suffer terribly with frequent bladder infections, but mine were linked to high bg levels,first I would get thrush and bladder infection followed.
I wonder if frequent bladder infections could be due to candida, I know your diabetes is well controlled, but its still possible to have candida lurking in your system, esp since you had to frequently take antibiotics.

Good that you have an appointment to see your doctor, shame that you have to wait a week though, you are in pain, a week is a very long time :(
 
WhitbyJet has a good point there Sirzy. :) I have problems with the candida too.... but I get the rare strain which means the over the counter treatments here don't work. I have to go to compounding chemist to get boric acid which is the only treatment for it. But as Sid mentioned earlier it could be ecoli too... could be anything really. But for peace of mind make sure you get that referral. :)
 
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