Diabetes & Vaginal Yeast Infections

All women should be aware of vaginal yeast infections, which pose a problem for at least 3 out of 4 of them. Women with diabetes suffer an even greater risk as their disease can create the perfect conditions for recurrent yeast infections.

Diabetes increases the risk for Vaginal Yeast Infection

Diabetes is the label for the body's inability to process sugar effectively, resulting in high blood sugar levels that can result in a multitude of complications. Elevated blood sugar levels affect the body in two different ways:

1. All body fluids will contain a higher amount of glucose
2. All bodily tissues will start to function abnormally, including the body's defenses against outside agents like yeast.

Essentially, diabetes contributes to yeast overgrowth when high blood sugars feed the yeast and weaken the body's defense against yeast. It is therefore extremely important for women with diabetes to closely watch their blood sugar levels.

Safe Blood Glucose Levels

Most doctors recommend these as generally safe blood glucose levels:

• 100-110 mg/dL in the morning and before meals.
• After a meal, blood glucose levels should be no higher than 140 mg/dL

Problems start to develop when blood sugar levels surpass these. Of course, women with diabetes should be in close contact with their health practitioner about what is safe for them.

Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

The risk is equal for women with both types of diabetes. The high glucose level becomes a poison and will act against the body if it is not regulated.

Diet, Diabetes, and Vaginal Yeast Infections

As with any other disease, diet will play a large role in development and treatment of diabetes and vaginal yeast infections. Along with medication and insulin, diet can be used to control blood glucose levels. You can directly impact your blood glucose levels by restricting or eliminating glucose from your diet. By using your diet to keep blood glucose levels stable, you in turn keep the yeast in your body under control and prevent its overgrowth.

Treating Vaginal Yeast Infections in Diabetic Women

Women with diabetes have the same treatment options for their yeast infections that are available to women without diabetes. The only difference may be that treatment will likely need to last longer in women with diabetes (1) http://www.yeastinfectionresource.com/yeast/article_yeast.asp