How does diabetes increase the risk of yeast infections. What are the symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection. How can diabetics prevent and treat yeast infections effectively. What treatment options are available for recurrent yeast infections. How does sugar intake affect yeast growth in the body.

The Link Between Diabetes and Yeast Infections

Yeast infections, medically known as candidiasis, are fungal infections that can cause irritation, itchiness, and discharge. While vaginal yeast infections are most common, affecting 3 in 4 women at least once in their lifetime, there is a significant connection between diabetes and an increased risk of these infections.

A comprehensive study in 2018, analyzing data from over 300,000 individuals, revealed that people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have a higher susceptibility to various infections, including yeast infections, compared to those without diabetes. This correlation is primarily due to elevated blood sugar levels providing an ideal environment for yeast growth.

Why Does High Blood Sugar Lead to Yeast Infections?

Yeast thrives on sugar. In poorly controlled diabetes, blood sugar levels can spike significantly, creating an opportune environment for yeast overgrowth, particularly in the vaginal area. This excess sugar becomes a food source for yeast, leading to its rapid multiplication and subsequent infection.

Recognizing Symptoms and Seeking Proper Diagnosis

Identifying a yeast infection promptly is crucial for effective treatment. Common symptoms include:

• Itching and irritation in the vaginal area
• Burning sensation, especially during urination or intercourse
• Redness and swelling of the vulva
• Vaginal pain and soreness
• Thick, white, odorless discharge resembling cottage cheese

Can yeast infection symptoms mimic other conditions? Yes, yeast infection symptoms can be similar to those of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Therefore, it’s essential to consult a healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis rather than self-diagnosing or self-treating.

Diagnostic Procedures for Yeast Infections

When you visit your doctor with symptoms of a yeast infection, they will typically follow these steps:

1. Review your medical history and current medications
2. Perform a pelvic examination
3. Examine the external genital area for signs of infection
4. Use a speculum to inspect the vagina and cervix
5. Potentially take a sample of vaginal fluid for fungal analysis

Identifying the specific type of fungus causing the infection allows your doctor to prescribe the most effective treatment tailored to your condition.

Treatment Options for Yeast Infections in Diabetic Patients

Treatment for yeast infections in individuals with diabetes may require special considerations. The choice of treatment depends on the severity of the infection and the patient’s overall health status.

Mild to Moderate Infections

For mild to moderate cases, topical treatments are often the first line of defense. These may include:

• Antifungal creams (e.g., clotrimazole, miconazole)
• Ointments
• Suppositories

Treatment duration typically ranges from 1 to 7 days, depending on the specific medication prescribed.

Severe Infections

More severe cases may require:

• Oral antifungal medications (e.g., fluconazole)
• Extended-course vaginal therapy (up to 17 days)

Is there a difference in treatment for diabetic patients? Research from 2019 indicates that over half of women with diabetes who develop yeast infections have a specific species of fungus called Candida glabrata. This strain often responds better to long-course suppository medications, highlighting the importance of tailored treatment approaches for diabetic patients.

Preventing Yeast Infections in Diabetic Individuals

Prevention is key in managing the risk of yeast infections, especially for those with diabetes. Here are some effective strategies:

• Maintain good blood sugar control
• Practice proper hygiene
• Wear breathable, cotton underwear
• Avoid douching and scented feminine products
• Take probiotics to maintain vaginal flora balance
• Manage stress levels
• Consider dietary changes to reduce sugar intake

How often should diabetic individuals undergo screening for yeast infections? Regular screening is recommended, but the frequency should be determined by your healthcare provider based on your individual risk factors and history.

Managing Recurrent Yeast Infections

For individuals experiencing recurring yeast infections, especially those with diabetes, a more comprehensive management plan may be necessary. This could include:

• A 2-week initial treatment course
• Weekly maintenance doses of antifungal medication for 6 months
• Regular check-ups to monitor effectiveness
• Lifestyle modifications to reduce risk factors

What defines a recurrent yeast infection? Recurrent yeast infections are typically characterized by four or more infections within a year.

The Role of Diet in Yeast Infection Prevention

While managing blood sugar levels is crucial for diabetic patients in preventing yeast infections, dietary choices can also play a significant role. Consider the following dietary recommendations:

• Limit refined carbohydrates and sugary foods
• Incorporate probiotic-rich foods (e.g., yogurt, kefir)
• Consume foods with antifungal properties (e.g., garlic, coconut oil)
• Stay hydrated to help flush out toxins
• Include foods high in vitamin C to boost immune function

Can specific foods trigger yeast infections? While no food directly causes yeast infections, a diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates can create an environment that promotes yeast growth.

Importance of Proper Hygiene in Preventing Yeast Infections

Maintaining good personal hygiene is essential in preventing yeast infections, particularly for individuals with diabetes. Here are some key hygiene practices to adopt:

• Keep the genital area clean and dry
• Wipe from front to back after using the bathroom
• Change out of wet swimsuits or sweaty clothes promptly
• Avoid tight-fitting pants or synthetic materials
• Use unscented, gentle soaps for washing
• Avoid douching or using scented feminine products

How does proper hygiene help prevent yeast infections? Good hygiene practices help maintain the natural balance of bacteria and yeast in the vaginal area, reducing the risk of overgrowth and infection.

The Impact of Sexual Activity on Yeast Infections

While yeast infections are not classified as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), sexual activity can influence their occurrence. Consider these points:

• Use water-based lubricants to reduce friction
• Urinate after sexual intercourse to flush out bacteria
• Consider using condoms to prevent the spread of infection
• Communicate with your partner if you have a yeast infection

Can sexual partners transmit yeast infections to each other? While not common, it is possible for sexual partners to pass yeast infections back and forth, especially if one partner has a weakened immune system.

The Connection Between Stress and Yeast Infections

Stress can have a significant impact on overall health, including the risk of yeast infections. For individuals with diabetes, stress management becomes even more crucial. Here’s why:

• Stress can weaken the immune system, making you more susceptible to infections
• High stress levels can lead to poor dietary choices, potentially increasing blood sugar
• Stress may disrupt sleep patterns, affecting overall health and immunity
• Chronic stress can lead to hormonal imbalances, which may promote yeast growth

How can diabetic individuals effectively manage stress to reduce yeast infection risk? Incorporating stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, yoga, regular exercise, and adequate sleep can help maintain overall health and reduce the risk of yeast infections.

The Role of Probiotics in Yeast Infection Prevention

Probiotics have gained attention for their potential role in preventing and managing yeast infections, especially in individuals with diabetes. Here’s what you need to know:

• Probiotics help maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the body
• Certain probiotic strains may help prevent yeast overgrowth
• Probiotic supplements or probiotic-rich foods can be beneficial
• Consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen

Which probiotic strains are most effective for preventing yeast infections? Lactobacillus species, particularly L. acidophilus and L. rhamnosus, have shown promise in maintaining vaginal health and preventing yeast overgrowth.

Monitoring Blood Sugar Levels to Prevent Yeast Infections

For individuals with diabetes, maintaining stable blood sugar levels is crucial in preventing yeast infections. Here are some strategies to effectively monitor and control blood sugar:

• Regular blood glucose testing as recommended by your healthcare provider
• Using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) for real-time tracking
• Keeping a food and blood sugar diary to identify patterns
• Adjusting medication or insulin as directed by your doctor
• Engaging in regular physical activity to help regulate blood sugar

How often should diabetic individuals check their blood sugar to help prevent yeast infections? The frequency of blood sugar checks should be determined by your healthcare provider based on your individual diabetes management plan and risk factors.

The Impact of Hormonal Changes on Yeast Infections

Hormonal fluctuations can influence the risk of yeast infections, which is particularly relevant for individuals with diabetes. Consider these hormonal factors:

• Menstrual cycle changes
• Pregnancy
• Menopause
• Use of hormonal contraceptives
• Hormone replacement therapy

How do hormonal changes affect yeast infection risk in diabetic individuals? Hormonal fluctuations can alter the vaginal environment, potentially making it more conducive to yeast overgrowth. This risk may be compounded in individuals with diabetes due to blood sugar fluctuations.

The Importance of Proper Foot Care in Diabetic Yeast Infection Prevention

While vaginal yeast infections are most common, individuals with diabetes are also at risk for fungal infections on their feet. Proper foot care is essential in preventing these infections:

• Keep feet clean and dry, especially between toes
• Inspect feet daily for any signs of infection or injury
• Wear breathable, moisture-wicking socks
• Choose shoes that fit well and allow air circulation
• Treat any cuts or blisters promptly to prevent infection

Why are diabetic individuals more prone to foot fungal infections? Poor circulation and nerve damage in the feet, common complications of diabetes, can make it easier for fungal infections to develop and harder for the body to fight them off.

The Role of Immune System Health in Yeast Infection Prevention

A strong immune system is crucial in preventing yeast infections, especially for those with diabetes. Here are some ways to boost immune function:

• Maintain a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins
• Get adequate sleep (7-9 hours per night for most adults)
• Exercise regularly to promote overall health
• Manage stress through relaxation techniques
• Consider immune-boosting supplements (after consulting with your doctor)

How does diabetes affect the immune system’s ability to fight off yeast infections? Diabetes can weaken the immune system, making it harder for the body to maintain the natural balance of bacteria and yeast, thus increasing the risk of infections.

Understanding the Different Types of Yeast Infections in Diabetic Patients

While Candida albicans is the most common cause of yeast infections, individuals with diabetes may be more susceptible to other types of yeast. Understanding these differences is crucial for effective treatment:

• Candida albicans: The most common type, usually responds well to standard treatments
• Candida glabrata: More common in diabetic patients, may require longer treatment courses
• Candida tropicalis: Can cause more severe infections, especially in individuals with compromised immune systems
• Candida krusei: Less common but can be resistant to some antifungal medications

Why is it important to identify the specific type of yeast causing the infection? Different yeast species may respond differently to treatments, so accurate identification allows for more targeted and effective therapy, especially important for individuals with diabetes who may be at risk for more resistant infections.

The Potential Complications of Untreated Yeast Infections in Diabetic Patients

Leaving a yeast infection untreated can lead to more serious health issues, particularly for individuals with diabetes. Potential complications include:

• Spread of infection to other parts of the body
• Increased difficulty in controlling blood sugar levels
• Development of antibiotic-resistant strains of yeast
• Increased risk of recurrent infections
• Potential for more severe systemic infections in cases of compromised immunity

How quickly should diabetic individuals seek treatment for suspected yeast infections? It’s crucial to seek medical attention promptly at the first signs of a yeast infection to prevent complications and ensure proper treatment.

Diabetes and Yeast Infections: Is There a Link?

A yeast infection, also known as candidiasis, is a type of fungal infection. It can cause irritation, itchiness, and discharge.

Vaginal yeast infections are most common. According to the Office on Women’s Health, 3 in 4 women will have at least one vaginal yeast infection in their lifetime. About half of all women will experience two or more.

Several things can increase your risk of yeast infection, including conditions such as diabetes. Keep reading to learn why this happens and what you can do to prevent it.

Research has shown a significant link between high blood sugar and vaginal yeast infections.

A 2018 study that included data from over 300,000 people found that those with type 1 or type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of infection, including yeast infection, than people without the condition.

Yeast feeds off of sugar. If your diabetes isn’t well-controlled, your blood sugar levels can spike to very high levels.

This increase in sugar can cause yeast to overgrow, particularly in the vaginal area. Your body may develop a yeast infection in response.

Maintaining your blood sugar levels may help reduce your risk of infection. If you have diabetes, you should undergo periodic screening for vaginal yeast infections.

Some types of candidiasis can lead to serious health complications if left untreated. Talk with your doctor about the best screening schedule for you.

Your vagina naturally contains a mix of yeast and bacteria. The yeast will remain in check as long as the balance between the two isn’t disrupted.

A number of things can interfere with this balance and cause your body to produce an excessive amount of yeast. This includes:

• taking certain antibiotics
• taking birth control pills
• undergoing hormone therapy
• having an impaired immune system
• engaging in sexual activity
• becoming pregnant

Anyone can develop a yeast infection, regardless of whether they’re sexually active. Yeast infections aren’t considered sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Contact your doctor if you’re experiencing symptoms of a yeast infection. They can help you treat it and rule out other causes for your symptoms.

Vaginal yeast infections have many of the same symptoms as STIs, so it’s important that you’re sure of your diagnosis. If left untreated, STIs can have more serious and long-term consequences.

During your appointment, your doctor will ask you to describe your symptoms. They will also ask about any medications you may be taking or other conditions that you may have.

After assessing your medical profile, your doctor will perform a pelvic exam. They first examine your external genital area for any signs of infection, then insert a speculum into your vagina. This holds your vaginal walls open and allows your doctor to look at the inside of your vagina and cervix.

Your doctor may also take a sample of your vaginal fluid to determine the type of fungus that’s causing the infection. Knowing the type of fungus behind the infection can help your doctor prescribe the most effective treatment option for you.

Mild to moderate yeast infections can usually be cleared up with a topical treatment such as a cream, ointment, or suppository. The course of treatment can last up to 7 days, depending on the medication.

Common options include:

• butoconazole (Gynazole-1)
• clotrimazole (Gyne-Lotrimin)
• miconazole (Monistat 3)
• terconazole (Terazol 3)

These medications are available over the counter and by prescription.

Your doctor may also recommend a single-dose oral medication, such as fluconazole (Diflucan). If your symptoms are more severe, they may suggest that you take 2 single doses 3 days apart to help clear the infection.

Your doctor may also instruct you to use a condom during sex to avoid spreading the infection to your partner.

Severe yeast infections

More severe yeast infections may also be treated with a long-course vaginal therapy. This typically lasts up to 17 days. Your doctor may recommend a cream, ointment, tablet, or suppository medication.

If these don’t clear up the infection or it returns within 8 weeks, it’s important to let your doctor know.

Recurring yeast infections

If your yeast infection comes back, your doctor will work with you to develop a maintenance plan to prevent yeast overgrowth. This plan may include:

• a 2-week course of medication to start
• a once-weekly fluconazole tablet for 6 months
• a once-weekly clotrimazole suppository for 6 months

Treatment for women with diabetes

Research from 2019 found that more than half of women with diabetes who develop yeast infections have a specific species of the fungus Candida glabrata. They also found that this fungus responds better to a long course of suppository medication.

If you’d prefer to give a suppository medication a try, discuss it with your doctor. They can help you determine whether this is the best treatment option for you.

Other than keeping an eye on your blood sugar, your preventive methods are the same as they are for those without diabetes.

You may be able to reduce your risk for vaginal yeast infections by:

• avoiding tight-fitting clothing, which can make the vaginal area moister
• wearing cotton underwear, which can help keep the moisture level under control
• changing out of swimsuits and exercise clothing as soon as you’re done using them
• avoiding very hot baths or sitting in hot tubs
• avoiding douches or vaginal sprays
• changing your tampons or menstrual pads frequently
• avoiding scented menstrual pads or tampons

You may also try home remedies for vaginal yeast infections.

If you suspect that you have a yeast infection, consult with your doctor. They can help you isolate the cause of your symptoms and put you on a treatment path that’s best for you. With treatment, vaginal yeast infections typically clear up within 14 days.

Talk with your doctor about how your diabetes may be a factor in causing yeast infections. They can assess your diabetes management plan and help correct any lapses in care. They may also be able to recommend better practices that can aid in controlling your blood sugar levels.

What You Need to Know

WRITTEN BY: Ginger Vieira

 2021-04-30

You probably already know that high blood sugar levels can affect your eyes, your fingers, your toes and your kidneys…but there are other parts of the body we don’t talk about as much. Diabetes can also affect the health of your genital areas.

Yes, high blood sugars can cause yeast infections. Unpleasant, uncomfortable and sometimes really painful, here’s what you need to know about yeast infections as a person with diabetes.

What is a Yeast Infection?

A yeast infection is basically an overgrowth of yeast, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). Yeast is technically a fungus, which means they are also “fungal infections. ”

Yeast infections are a common struggle for people with diabetes because high blood sugars can easily feed the growth of yeast. When there’s excess sugar in your blood, there will inevitably be excess sugar in your urine which leads to the overgrowth of yeast.

(You can develop a yeast-related infection in your mouth, throat and tongue, too, but this is usually referred to as “thrush”.)

The overgrowth of this otherwise healthy fungus can lead to extremely uncomfortable symptoms that are impossible to ignore.

Yeast infections can occur in women and men, but they are certainly much more common in women.

Yeast infections in women with diabetes: Also known as “vulvovaginal candidiasis” in women, a yeast infection affects the vagina, vulva and around the opening of your vagina. They can be extremely uncomfortable and hard to get rid of.

The vagina actually relies on the presence of yeast at all times to maintain the complex environmental balance that keeps this part of your body healthy.

Yeast infections in men with diabetes: Also known as “jock itch,” yeast infections in men are frequently related to wearing sweaty jock-straps for too long. Especially when combined with high blood sugar levels, a sweaty jockstrap creates the ideal environment for the overgrowth of yeast.

Infections can develop around the testicle, inner thighs and buttocks. It can also develop in and around the head of the penis in those who are uncircumcised.

Signs & Symptoms of a Yeast Infection

The earliest signs and symptoms of a yeast infection are subtle, and easy to ignore at first, but eventually, these symptoms will become extremely uncomfortable.

• Intense itching
• Stinging or burning feeling
• Burning and pain during urination
• Slight odor
• White creamy discharge (earlier stage)
• White discharge, sometimes clumpy (later stage)
• Redness
• Swelling (in severe cases)
• Pain or burning during vaginal intercourse
• Itching on the outside and inside of the vagina

Call your doctor immediately if you experience any of these more severe symptoms, as they could indicate a more urgent health concern:

• Yellow discharge
• Bloody discharge
  Strong odor
• Pain in your back or stomach
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Needing to pee frequently

If you’ve never experienced a yeast infection before, contact your healthcare team to help determine what it is before purchasing any over-the-counter medications. Untreated yeast infections can become extremely uncomfortable and painful.

Common Causes of a Yeast Infection

There are a variety of things that can cause a yeast infection. People with diabetes are even more susceptible because combining any one of these variables with even slightly high blood sugar levels creates an easy environment for the overgrowth of yeast.

• High blood sugar levels: Not all high blood sugars will cause a yeast infection, but the frequency and length of time your blood sugar is over 13.9 mmol/L250 mg/dL, the more easily yeast will grow. Yeast infections are also a common early sign of undiagnosed diabetes. If your blood sugars don’t come down to safer levels, you will probably continue to develop yeast infections.
• Certain diabetes medications: Keep reading to learn more about which diabetes medications can cause yeast infections and what you can do about them.
• Antibiotics: Especially for those with diabetes, be very on guard for the earliest signs of a yeast infection when taking antibiotics. The sooner you catch it, the quicker you can treat it and prevent the infection from getting worse. But continue taking your antibiotics as directed by your doctor!
• Severe stress: Severe stress causes many aspects of our regular health to change, and this can throw off the environment of vaginal health, too, especially when stress is combined with any of these other causes.
• Certain types of tampons & pads: Whether it’s scented tampons or just an entire brand, your body may be trying to tell you loud and clear it’s time to try something else! Wearing damp panty-liners all day can also lead to yeast infections, which means you need to change them more often.
• Wet bathing suits, damp underwear, or sweaty jockstraps: Don’t spend the day in your wet bathing suit or a sweaty jockstrap. The moisture creates an ideal environment for the overgrowth of yeast! If you struggle to get through the day without damp underwear, simply make a habit of changing into a new pair halfway through the day.
• Your partner’s sexual chemistry or semen: It’s just simple chemistry, sometimes the balance that keeps them healthy isn’t ideal for your body. This means preventing your partner’s semen from being present in your vagina is a must.
• Douching products: Never douche. Period. Talk to your doctor about vaginal concerns instead of douching.

Diabetes Medications That Can Cause Yeast Infections

The diabetes drug category “SGLT-2 inhibitors” can easily cause yeast infections in women because these drugs encourage your body to excrete excess glucose from the food you eat out through your urine. This means the glucose (sugar) is never entering your bloodstream, but instead your body is passing it through your urine and potentially feeding the growth of yeast.

Diabetes medications that can cause yeast infections include:

• Farxiga (dapagliflozin)
• Invokana (canagliflozin)
• Jardiance (empagliflozin)

The recommended strategies for preventing yeast infections while taking one of these diabetes medications are:

• Drink a lot of water throughout the day. Since your body is using your urine to flush sugar out of your system, you need to stay well-hydrated! Drink. Drink. Drink.
• Eat fewer carbohydrates. If you’re eating a high-carb diet (over 250 to 300 grams per day), then you’ll be flushing more and more sugar out through your urine. Reducing the carbs in your diet, even down to 150 grams per day, can help prevent the overgrowth of yeast because there will be less sugar from your diet in your urine.
• Talk to your doctor about adding another diabetes medication to your regimen to bring your blood sugars down so there’s less sugar being flushed out through your urine.

Talk to your doctor ASAP if you think one of these medications is causing frequent yeast infections. You don’t necessarily have to stop taking the medication, but you should make some other changes to decrease your risk of yeast infections.

Other Causes of Yeast Infections

• Hormonal birth control
• Chemotherapy
• HIV/Aids treatments
• Long-term urinary catheter use
• Anabolic steroids
• Cortisone injections
• Contracting a yeast infection from a woman (usually only in sex between two women)
• A man can potentially contract yeast from an infected woman, but this is very rare

Yeast Infection Treatment Options

Treating a yeast infection can be frustrating because there are a few types of over-the-counter (OTC) “anti-fungal” treatments and they aren’t cheap. Additionally, one type of anti-fungal treatment may not help at all while the next option on the shelf will. It can take some trial and error to determine the best treatment for your body.

• Start by improving your blood sugars: If your yeast infections are frequent and recurring, talk to your healthcare team to help you address what’s causing the infections. Adjusting your diabetes medications can do wonders! No anti-fungal treatment will help a yeast infection if you do not also bring your blood sugars down to a healthy range. Recurring yeast infections mean something in your day-to-day life or your general health needs some attention.
• Over-the-counter antifungal creams: The four types of OTC products you can buy at your local pharmacy are butoconazole, clotrimazole, miconazole and terconazole. These are all creams or small pill-like capsules that are inserted into your vagina or on the affected skin area. Remember, if one type doesn’t work, try a different one. Don’t just change brands—read the fine print to determine which type you’ve already tried.
• Stronger prescription medications: The drug fluconazole and nystatin can be taken by mouth for certain types of long-term infections.
• Male circumcision: In severe cases, a male with recurring yeast infections may need to consider circumcision to prevent further infections.

While yeast infections are generally considered harmless, they can become severe if left untreated. Talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing recurring yeast infections or a yeast infection that is not clearing within a week of using OTC treatment options.

WRITTEN BY Ginger Vieira, POSTED 04/30/21, UPDATED 12/01/22

Ginger Vieira is an author and writer living with type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism. She’s authored a variety of books, including “When I Go Low” (for kids), “Pregnancy with Type 1 Diabetes,” and “Dealing with Diabetes Burnout. ” Ginger’s also written for Diabetes Mine, Healthline, T1D Exchange, Diabetes Strong and more! In her free time, she is jumping rope, scootering with her daughters, or walking with her handsome fella and their dog.

Delicate problem – thrush

News

• 08.10.2021

• 2393

Due to metabolic disorders, the course of diabetes mellitus is often complicated by infectious processes. Especially often develop fungal infections caused mainly by yeast-like fungi Candida albicans. Therefore, such infections are called candidiasis, and in everyday life – thrush (due to the cheesy white plaque that appears on the affected skin and mucous membranes).

Why do fungal infections often develop in diabetes mellitus?

Fungal yeasts use sugar as a nutrient medium to help them grow and multiply. When your blood sugar levels are high for a long period of time, or they rise sharply over several days, it can easily trigger uncontrolled yeast growth.

13.8 mmol/l is the general threshold when the body suffers even from mundane tasks such as exercise. Staying consistently above this level is an ideal environment for fungal growth.

If the sugar level is above 16.6 mmol/l, the development of fungi is almost inevitable if the blood sugar level does not improve quickly ¹ .

Most often, fungi affect the urinary tract: renal pelvis, bladder, urethra, and the prostate gland (prostate). At the same time, in some patients there are no signs of the disease – fungi can only be detected by chance in urine tests. Others have frequent painful urination, pain in the lumbar and bladder area, burning in the urethra, irritation and redness of the glans penis, urinary incontinence, etc.

On the 2nd place among fungal infections in patients with diabetes are oral and pharyngeal candidiasis and vulvovaginal candidiasis (ie, vaginal lesions). Fungal lesions of the pharynx and upper respiratory tract are manifested by characteristic symptoms: redness, coughing, “irritation” of the mucous membrane, etc. Often, irritation in the area of ​​​​the external genitalia and anus joins.

Candida bronchitis and pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs) often complicate diabetes. They tend to be chronic, difficult to treat and are characterized by shortness of breath, cough with sputum, chest pain and other symptoms.

It should be noted that symptoms similar to candidiasis may be characteristic of a number of other infections. Therefore, in no case should you self-medicate. If any suspicious signs appear, you should immediately consult a doctor – for diagnosis and treatment.

However, it must be remembered that the key to successful treatment and prevention of candidiasis in people with diabetes is the control of blood sugar levels. It can be achieved through a combination of drug therapy and diet. And if drug therapy is prescribed and adjusted by the attending physician, then Botanica can help you in terms of nutrition. Especially for people with diabetes, Botanica has developed a complex of daily nutrition – taking into account the glycemic index and glycemic load. You can get acquainted with the daily menu, as well as order amazingly delicious dishes on the Botanica website.

References:

1. Thrush and diabetes: fungal infections of intimate areas, causes and treatment // Diabeton (12/24/2019).

2. Burova S.A. Systemic and localized candidiasis in patients with diabetes mellitus // Russian medical journal. – 2003. – No. 17. – p. 969

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Sugars found in mucus that can prevent fungal infection

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Science
June 6, 2022

Further

Alexander
Sheremetiev

news editor

Alexander
Sheremetiev

news editor

MIT researchers have identified components of mucus that can interact with the fungus Candida albicans and prevent fungal infection.

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Candida albicans is an opportunistic yeast that often lives in the human gastrointestinal tract, mouth, and urinary system. It usually does not cause disease, but under certain circumstances, such as immunodeficiency, it can be fatal.

In a new paper published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology, MIT scientists examined mucins and identified components of the mucus produced by the glands of the body that can suppress the development of these fungi.

Mucins are made up of hundreds of polysaccharides (glycans) attached to a long protein backbone, forming a bottlebrush-like structure, the scientists explain. They separated the glycans from the protein backbone and exposed them to the fungus. It turned out that polysaccharides contained in mucins from human saliva and intestinal mucus of animals prevent the formation of filaments of unicellular fungi.

Researchers say infections develop when Candida albicans changes from a round-shaped yeast into multicellular filaments called hyphae, which are a harmful version of the microbe. Hyphae can release toxins that damage the immune system and underlying tissues.

On the left – the threads of a dangerous form of the fungus, on the right – the round shape of the fungus. Image: Julie Takagi, MIT News

In further work, the scientists synthesized six of the most common glycans in mucus and tested their ability to affect Candida albicans. Testing showed that each of these glycans had a different effect on the formation of filaments, and some of them were as effective as the complex components of mucus.

Analysis of fungal gene expression showed that glycans activate the transcription factor NRG1. As a result, more than 500 genes are activated or suppressed in fungi. Including those that are involved in the formation of threads and biofilms, are responsible for the synthesis of amino acids and other metabolic functions.

Researchers believe that by exploiting the diversity of glycans, they will be able to develop new treatments for various infectious diseases.