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Urination Issues - Detailed Symptoms

Dougie22

Dougie22

Well-Known Member
Messages
319
Location
Scotland
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Other
Hi.

Haven't been on the forum for ages and in the meantime I've had many lapses in my diet. My HbA1c had gone from 39 last June to 62 in February. Just awaiting the next set of results this week but not sure It'll be much better. I just find it very hard to control my intake. It's not lack of knowledge, it's lack of consistent willpower.

My diabetes type and HbA1c numbers are in my signature line. I am obese at 115 Kg approx.

For quite a long time, I would say that I had almost no symptoms but now I've started to notice urination problems. I have looked around but can't find much detail around symptoms, particularly on the issue of diabetes cause vs enlarged prostate cause. Lots of references to "frequent urination" but little detail on exactly what this means.

Firstly, I would say that I have very occassional days where I seem to be going all the time (maybe 14 times a day, including up twice in the night. These are probably the days after I've been out of control (barbeque at a friends house...too much food, too many carbs, too much alcohol). I've started to keep a diary of these symptoms so I can test the link (will also go back to my meter).

My biggest problem, however, is on long distance (4hr) motorway drives. Again probably after a poor control the evening before travelling. I get a very sudden and desperate urge to go and if the next service area isn't close this develops into severe cramps. In the most recent case I was in agony and unable to prevent slight leakage. Once I get to the services, it's usually pee and poo together, or sometimes extreme flatulence and pee. Once sorted and back in the car, I might need to stop again within an hour with similar issues. Then it goes away. Other times, I can do the whole 4hr journey without a stop.

Mentioned it to my Diabetes Specialist Nurse last time but she didn't seem too concerned, presumably putting it down to the diabetes. Will mention it again at next meeting and possibly ask to see the doctor about it. Had a good read of the prostate cancer literature and it seems frequent urination is not a common indicator of this condition - phew! The most common (non diabetes) cause seems to be an enlarged prostate.

So my questions:
- Anyone else recognise this description and experiencing similar. If so, is closer BG control the answer?
- Can you point me to any forum entries or published info that go into this level of detail?
- Any info on diabetes vs enlarged prostate differences?

Many thanks for any help given.
 
Hi Dougie,

Can't advise about any prostrate issues being a female but can offer a few pointers on the frequent urination side of things.

If you eat a lot of carbs and your glucose levels go up you will need to pee more as the body will expel the extra glucose via urination.

I find personally if my levels go up after eating and then come back down quite quickly (I'm type 1 by the way and inject insulin each time I eat) I find the urge to pee more often. If my levels hardly rise after the meal and then stay pretty constant over the next few hours I can mange hours without going.
I also find that if my levels are falling and getting rather low I get the urge to both pee and poo (I have never seen these listed as hypo symptoms mind you so it may just be me!). If I try to resist the urge to go it also sometimes makes my stomach feel uncomfortable and gives me slight cramps.

The only way to establish what is going on is to keep testing and making a note of what you are eating and the symptoms you are feeling and experiencing. That way you will build up an idea of what is good and bad and so how you can deal with it.

HTH
Angie
 
Thanks Angie. Sorry its so late in coming.

Any other men out there with similar issues?
 
Dougie22 said:
Any other men out there with similar issues?
Click to expand...

I always thought that this was a common symptom of diabetes. Is the name for it Polyuria? I certainly suffer from it but when I told the nurse she suggested de caf tea and coffee and refused to say it was due to diabetes.

If I only get up twice in the night for a pee then that's a good night.

As for the rest, I don't suffer since I live in a house with three toilets so there is always one nearby.
 
If I'm under control, I usually get away with once a night.

Pulling the car over and jumping behind a tree can be quite embarrassing though (but not as bad as wetting myself!)
 
Dougie22 said:
(but not as bad as wetting myself!)
Click to expand...

When I go walking in the woods I know all the places I can stop for a pee without much chance of dog walkers appearing. As for when the other occasionally strikes I always carry some toilet paper, just in case. I have used it twice so far.

If you Google Polyuria you get quotes like this:

"The most common cause of polyuria in both adults and children is uncontrolled diabetes mellitus,[3] causing an osmotic diuresis. In the absence of diabetes mellitus, the most common causes are primary polydipsia (excessive fluid drinking), central diabetes insipidus and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.[3]"

That's from Wikepedia although other write ups are available.
 
Andy 12345 I think you are right!

Starting a new regime of reduced carbs right away....I've been getting careless after some good results.

Squire Fullwood, I will do some further reading.

Strangely, I've never had a symptom of thirst, ever.....don't know if that means anything.

Anyway, after years of circa 8.5s at two hours and a good HbA1c in June I hadn't used my meter in months.

Last few days, I've been seeing 15s at two hours so action is overdue!

I think the pernicious poison at the bottom of this is......Potato Soup! My wife's is superb but almost certainly poisonous to me in large quantities. Only one way to find out. As always, back on the meter!
 
Dougie22 said:
Strangely, I've never had a symptom of thirst, ever.....don't know if that means anything.
Click to expand...

It doesn't mean much since I never had the thirst symptom either. What I find is that debauchery raises my morning sugar levels and appears to cause me to retain fluid. When I get back to the healthy regime there is a days pause and then the night of the many loo visits.

The cat likes to accompany me and it adds something to the experience when a cat walks slowly along in front of you zig zagging and managing to always be where you wish to step next.
 
Most people (except children and pregnant women start urinating out glucose when are above about 10mmol/l.) This is what leads to excessive water loss and dehydration (and thirst)
In my personal experience polyuria and polydipsia weren't just needing to go to the loo a bit more and feeling a bit thirsty but far more than that (though obviously it's relative.)
Before being diagnosed with a fasting glucose in the mid 20s's, I couldn't put the water bottle down. I couldn't quench my thirst with huge amounts of liquid. I'd go into a French bar and ask for a sirop de cassis and water. They give you a small measure of cordial (sirop) with a carafe of water; I'd drink the whole carafe and still feel thirsty. I think I could have downed a yard of ale without stopping.
Now, as pre diabetes, I can only drink small sips and can't get through the large cups of soft drinks served in fast food restaurants.
Urination was very frequent, many times a day and night, large amounts and almost colourless. Now, I rarely need to go at night, even on the odd times when I go to bed with a level above the 7mmol/l diabetic fasting threshold.
I'm female though, the male plumbing is different . I think that if your glucose levels are reasonable then you should talk to your doctor, for reassurance, if nothing else.
 
I recognise the night of the many loo visits syndrome after getting back on the wagon. All that retained fluid has to go somewhere, I guess.
 
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