• Guest, the forum is undergoing some upgrades and so the usual themes will be unavailable for a few days. In the meantime, you can use the forum like normal. We'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Recurrent UTI's

Melissa.coleman

Melissa.coleman

Active Member
Hi
I am t1 for the last 14 years and 30 years old
I currently have a UTI for the second time in 6 months!!
I have got my hba1c from 14% to 11.2% in 3 months and my blood sugars have improved dramatically since.
I take 5 injections a day plus I am on blood pressure, statins, daily low dose aspirin and vitamin d supplement
I keep myself clean, don't use soap, wear cotton underwear and wipe the correct way yet I still got another infection. It seems hopeless at what I do and I am going to have these infections all the time. I am sick of being sick!!! Don't know what else to do!
I hate having diabetes and all it's complications. I would rather die then have to live with it! I don't know anyone of my age who has the same problems as me!!! I am a very abnormal person.
Please tell me what else I can do???!


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
I'm sorry you're feeling depressed and are having such a hard time with T1 if you aren't already speaking to someone about your frustrations I think you probably should.

Having said that, I imagine the bacteria that causes your UTI's is feeding directly off all of the excess sugars in your body. There really isn't any reason for the bacteria to go away, the only way to permanently avoid further UTI's would be to take drastic control of your blood sugars; a Hba1c of 11.2% may be a great improvement over your last result but realistically it is still far too high.

I wrote a bit about how I control my levels in another thread, you can probably find them by looking through the recent activity on my profile if you are interested.
 
11.2 is the best it has been in years!!! Only now after 14 years I am getting the right support from medics.

Please don't tell me it's still too far high when I know this already!!!

I am trying my upmost hardest but when you feel like I do you might also be upset!


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
I know it must be difficult and I understand how hopeless you may be feeling but you can keep improving your Hba1c and see a better quality of life with continued effort.

Just asking; do you count carbohydrates? how many times a day do you usually eat carbs(including snacks etc)?
 
Melissa, are you on the basal bolus injections? (There is a reason why I am asking this)

Having high bg will cause you to dehydrate and therefore can cause UTIs, I know how you're feeling, I used to get them every month!

I'm sorry you're feeling so poorly, let's focus that anger you're feeling on kicking diabetes butt!

Indiana x
 
I'd suggest talking to your dietitian about trying out a low carb diet at least until you have control of your levels, I had a Hba1c of 16% on diagnosis and got it down to 5.1% by following a low carb diet.
 
Okay, have you done any testing with your levimir? (OI take this too) I'm asking because if you're carb counting and getting your humalog dose right then you may need to increase your levimir.

I've just done three days of carb free meals to test mine, if your bg is still high throughout the day without eating carbs then you will need to increase your basal insulin as this is the one that will set your levels for the day.

It's just a suggestion but it might be worth a go?
Obviously it's just my opinion but that's what I would do if I was in your situation.

Indiana x
 
Okay, have you done any testing with your levimir? (OI take this too) I'm asking because if you're carb counting and getting your humalog dose right then you may need to increase your levimir.

I've just done three days of carb free meals to test mine, if your bg is still high throughout the day without eating carbs then you will need to increase your basal insulin as this is the one that will set your levels for the day.

It's just a suggestion but it might be worth a go?
Obviously it's just my opinion but that's what I would do if I was in your situation.

Indiana x
Click to expand...

I agree with this; reducing the amount of variables will help you determine what changes you need to make to your dosages.
 
It sounds to me like you're not having enough insulin if your bg is high and you're getting other illnesses too.
You poor thing!
Did you say you're on a split dose of levimir? Could you try and increase your morning dose and keep your evening one as it is?
I'd do a few non carb days to find out for sure before fiddling about with doses but I think they might need tweaking a bit honey.
Do you rotate your injection sites often?

Indiana x
 
Yeah but my blood sugars now are rarely above 10... Maybe I need a cgm to c what is going on. The 22 usually works well.

I now only inject at the sides of my stomach or low down on my legs... This was suggested by my dsn


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Yeah that might be a good idea.

Keep rotating your sites, I hope everything works out for you :)

Feel better soon!

Indiana x
 
Know where you are coming from. Used to get up to 5 bouts every year. Sometimes one would clear and then another within another a few weeks and more antibiotics. My doc used to prescribe a course for me before I went on hols 'just in case' - don't think he should have but I'd had them so often whilst away that they had ended up spoiling our hols. I have noticed that since my BG control is much tighter through eating less carbs and having a pump I haven't had one for over 2 years, so I guess lowering your blood sugars is key. All the best.
 
I'm Type 2 but I have had more UTIs than I can count. For over 20 years. I have also had an inflamed bladder with no infection more times than UTIs.

At one point I was on a daily low does anti biotic and that did the trick for ages. Eventually I stopped them and now I have 2 or 3 infections per year but my bladder is always on alert or often irritated.

It makes me angry, distracted, upset and hard to live with. It is the only thing I can think about at that time.

Are yours confirmed infections? Just wondered if it was inflammation?

Cara
 
HI. If what you have is Candida (Thrush) then this will normally disappear once your blood sugar comes down to nearer normal. Everyone has candida naturally on the skin but it takes off when there is a lot of sugar around. I don't think antibiotics are relevant for thrush; just anti-fungal ointment etc. Yes, your HBa1C is very high and is the likely cause. Are you on a low-carb diet? Your Levemir units imply you may be overweight and insulin resistant; just guessing? If so then dieting is the best way forward. Let's hope the dietician can help but keeping the carbs down will be essential. I wonder whether changing your insulin is really needed? Although Levemir doesn't last 24 hours having the split dose achieves the same objective.
 
Back
Top