Staying Hydrated With Diabetes

Water — our bodies are made of up to 60% of it, but many people still don’t drink enough every day.1 In fact, a 2018 news article from the Chicago Sun-Times reports that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.2 To stay hydrated, health experts recommend that adult men drink 104 ounces of water a day and adult women drink 72 ounces.3 Proper hydration is a key part of keeping your body healthy. If you’re feeling thirsty, cranky, sluggish, or often have headaches, you may not be drinking enough water.

 

Another factor playing a role in dehydration can be your high blood sugar levels from diabetes. Your kidneys work hard to filter out extra sugar (glucose) in your blood — at the same time, they also get rid of valuable water your body needs.4 This leads to excess urination, leaving you thirsty and heading to the bathroom over and over. You try drinking more water to compensate, but it just seems to make the problem worse.

 

Dehydration also drives up your blood sugar levels — something no diabetic wants to deal with. Without enough water in your bloodstream, your blood sugar becomes more concentrated.5 As a result, the vicious cycle of excess urination and dehydration continues.

Are You Getting Enough Electrolytes?

You might think the key to rehydration is to simply drink more water. But your body needs the right balance of electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium to get the job done. These charged atoms help you maintain a healthy fluid balance and control chemical reactions in your body.6 Without enough electrolytes, you’re at risk of throwing off your fluid balance and becoming dehydrated.

 

We get many necessary electrolytes from our diets, but it’s easy to drain your body’s reserves. Intense exercise leads to electrolyte loss in your sweat. Illness and dehydration also throw off your electrolyte balance and cause water loss. It’s well known that the best way to combat dehydration is to replenish your body with both fluids and electrolytes.7

 

Many people turn to sports drinks to rehydrate. These beverages are hailed for their hydration benefits, but they’re rarely diabetic-friendly. Most contain too many carbohydrates and sweeteners that only add fuel to your dehydration fire. Sports drinks also deliver a heavy-hitting serving of sodium — often 10% more than your daily requirement.7 For those with diabetes, extra sodium can contribute to high blood pressure.8

Rehydration With Diabetics in Mind

There are few to no beverages available for people with diabetes that offer health benefits like hydration and immune support. Med-Bev has developed a new beverage with a fantastic taste that offers people living with diabetes an anytime beverage. No sugar, low carbs, and has 13 vitamins and minerals along with the benefits of turmeric and a plant-based glucosamine. Visit Med-Bev.com for product details and ordering.

Authored by
Emily Wagner, M.S.

 

References

1. Cleveland Clinic. Electrolytes. Updated September 24, 2021. Accessed October 5, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/21790-electrolytes

2. Weigel J. Doctors Say Most Americans Are Dehydrated. Chicago Sun-Times. November 8, 2018. Accessed October 5, 2023. https://chicago.suntimes.com/2018/11/8/18455701/doctors-say-most-americans-are-dehydrated

3. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Water. Accessed October 5, 2023. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/water/

4. Mayo Clinic. Diabetes Symptoms: When Diabetes Symptoms Are a Concern. Updated June 27, 2023. Accessed October 5, 2023. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-symptoms/art-20044248

5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 10 Surprising Things That Can Spike Your Blood Sugar. Updated July 28, 2022. Accessed October 4, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/spotlights/blood-sugar.html

6. Cleveland Clinic. Electrolyte Imbalance. Updated August 13, 2022. Accessed October 5, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/24019-electrolyte-imbalance

7. Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials. Are Electrolyte-Loaded Sports Drinks Healthy? Published August 22, 2023. Accessed October 5, 2023. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/electrolyte-drinks-beneficial-or-not/

8. Kim M. Dietary sodium intake in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Metab J. 2016;40(4):280-282.