Yeast Infections and Diabetes

August 15, 2004

GREETINGS --

The following are some questions and answers about recurrent yeast

infections in diabetic women.

wambo1941

Written by:

Gloria Bachmann, MD - University of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ

ph Apuzzio, MD - University of Medicine and Dentistry of New

Jersey

Gerald Bernstein, MD - Beth Israel Medical Center, NY

Published on: 2002-06-18

Nearly three of every four women will have a yeast infection in their

lifetimes, and up to 45 percent of women will have two or more. Women

tend to be more susceptible to vaginal yeast infections when their

bodies are under stress from lack of sleep, poor diet, pregnancy, or

antibiotic use. And women with immune-suppressing diseases like

diabetes and HIV are at a significantly higher risk of getting yeast

infections.

Over nine million American women, or nearly nine percent of all adult

women in the U.S., have diabetes, according to the National Institute

of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. For this population,

understanding the risk of yeast infections, and knowing how to

prevent or treat them, becomes essential.

Below, three experts in the area of vaginal health and diabetes,

discuss why women with diabetes are at increased risk, and how they

can protect themselves from recurrent yeast infections.

First, why does diabetes increase the risk for developing yeast

infections?

GERALD BERNSTEIN, MD: It's important to understand what the elevated

blood glucose in people with diabetes actually does to the body. When

the blood sugar increases, two things happen. One, all the body

secretions will have an increased amount of glucose. Two, all of the

tissues of the body stop functioning normally, and therefore the

normal defenses that the body has against intrusion by outside

substances -- such as yeast -- will be abnormal.

Is the risk different between patients who have Type 1 and Type 2

diabetes? And if so, how?

GERALD BERNSTEIN, MD: No, it's not different. An elevated blood sugar

acts like a poison, and it will poison both Type 1 and Type 2

patients if the glucose is not controlled.

Obviously, it's important for any diabetic to control blood sugar.

But what are the target blood sugars for women that will lower their

risk of developing a yeast infection?

GERALD BERNSTEIN, MD: We make a diagnosis of diabetes when a person's

blood sugar is 126mg/dL or above. Our goals are to have a patient's

morning and before-meal blood sugar at around 100-110 mg/dL and then,

after a meal, no more than 140 mg/dL. Now that's what the normal

level is. When we let the glucose levels rise past these numbers,

people develop problems.

What role does diet play in the development of yeast infections in

women with diabetes?

GERALD BERNSTEIN, MD: Diet can be used as a tool to control glucose

levels, just like medications and insulin. We control the amount of

glucose that comes into the body through our diet. By controlling the

blood sugar through diet, we control the blood sugar in the vaginal

secretions and the impact of that glucose on the function of

different tissues.

If a woman with diabetes thinks that she has a yeast infection, what

should she do?

JOSEPH APUZZIO, MD: She should visit her doctor to make a diagnosis.

The diagnosis is really crucial.

And there are certain tests that she should make sure her doctor

performs. Is that correct?

JOSEPH APUZZIO, MD: Yes. In order to make a diagnosis, one should do

a slide test of vaginal secretions under the microscope, to see if it

is a yeast organism causing the infection. Usually that will suffice.

Sometimes one also has to culture the vaginal secretions as well, but

that's in a small number of patients.

GLORIA BACHMANN, MD: It is really important for women to visit the

doctor before they douche or before they start treatment for the

first infection, so that we can see exactly what the vaginal health

looks like and make the appropriate diagnosis.

What are the treatment options for a diabetic woman with a yeast

infection?

GLORIA BACHMANN, MD: A diabetic woman can use all the same treatments

that a woman who does not have diabetes can use. She can use an oral

or vaginal treatment, depending on her preference.

How effective are the different options?

JOSEPH APUZZIO, MD: The success rates are probably on the order of 85-

90% success, for both pills and creams.

Do yeast infections in women with diabetes take longer to treat in

some cases?

JOSEPH APUZZIO, MD: There are one-day therapies, three-day therapies,

seven-day or fourteen-day therapies, and usually, patients who are

diabetic need the longer therapy, not the shorter.

There are a lot of yeast infection treatment products sold over-the-

counter. Is it advisable, especially for women with diabetes, to

diagnose and treat themselves this way?

GLORIA BACHMANN, MD: It's advisable once the woman knows what she's

dealing with. If she has been diagnosed by her physician before,

knows the symptoms, and the physician has looked at the vaginal

secretions and confirmed -- under the microscope -- that indeed she

has a yeast infection, then she can treat recurrent ones. When she

understands what a yeast infection is, and what it feels like, she

can treat herself.

Any additional thoughts that you'd like to add?

GLORIA BACHMANN, MD: I think it's important that women understand how

essential it is to complete the therapy. Many women will come in and

say to me, " You know what? I finished sooner than I should according

to the package, because I felt better. " It's important not to stop

midway.

Also, if a woman still feels that she has symptoms after completing

therapy, then she should go back to her doctor and go through a full

pelvic examination. The doctor should look at the secretions under

the microscope to be sure that the infection has been resolved with

the medication.

So bottom line, start with a doctor and make sure that your doctor

knows -- when you've completed treatment -- that the infection is

gone.

August 15, 2004

Thanks Wambo

I never knew this was diabetes related. My doctor told me to wear

cotton panties and told me I was wiping wrong and everything but the

diabetes was the problem. I was at the point of giving up sex. I am

learning a lot here.

Beth

> GREETINGS --

> The following are some questions and answers about recurrent yeast

> infections in diabetic women.

> wambo1941

Women

> tend to be more susceptible to vaginal yeast infections when their

> bodies are under stress from lack of sleep, poor diet, pregnancy,

or

> antibiotic use. And women with immune-suppressing diseases like

> diabetes and HIV are at a significantly higher risk of getting

yeast

> infections.

August 15, 2004

Thanks Wambo

I never knew this was diabetes related. My doctor told me to wear

cotton panties and told me I was wiping wrong and everything but the

diabetes was the problem. I was at the point of giving up sex. I am

learning a lot here.

Beth

> GREETINGS --

> The following are some questions and answers about recurrent yeast

> infections in diabetic women.

> wambo1941

Women

> tend to be more susceptible to vaginal yeast infections when their

> bodies are under stress from lack of sleep, poor diet, pregnancy,

or

> antibiotic use. And women with immune-suppressing diseases like

> diabetes and HIV are at a significantly higher risk of getting

yeast

> infections.

August 15, 2004

Beth,

I know from experience that cotton panties make a big difference but I've also

got to say that not having sexual intercourse has made a big difference for me.

Of course, I'm 50 years old and I did have a time convincing my husband that we

didn't have to have intercourse every time we had sex and now his back has help

slow him down a bit. It was hard because his fluids would itch and burn me and

if we used a condom the lube on them would eat me up. It was a no win situation

but we are learning many other ways to express out love to each other and I feel

we are closer because of not having the pressure of intercourse.

Beverly

August 15, 2004

Beverly, I would rather have sperm inside me that that liquid on

condoms. It does have some chemical on it doesn't it. My panties stay

wet in the crotch after sex, but I do need this as bad as he does.

Beth

> Beth,

> I know from experience that cotton panties make a big difference

but I've also got to say that not having sexual intercourse has made

a big difference for me. Of course, I'm 50 years old and I did have

a time convincing my husband that we didn't have to have intercourse

every time we had sex and now his back has help slow him down a bit.

It was hard because his fluids would itch and burn me and if we used

a condom the lube on them would eat me up. It was a no win situation

but we are learning many other ways to express out love to each other

and I feel we are closer because of not having the pressure of

intercourse.

>

> Beverly

August 15, 2004

Ditto. Nothing like the real thing.

--- luvgum2000@... luvgum2000@...> wrote:

> Beverly, I would rather have sperm inside me that

that liquid on

> condoms. It does have some chemical on it doesn't

it. My panties stay

> wet in the crotch after sex, but I do need this as

bad as he does.

> Beth

>

> > Beth,

> > I know from experience that cotton panties make a

big difference

> but I've also got to say that not having sexual

intercourse has made

> a big difference for me. Of course, I'm 50 years

old and I did have

> a time convincing my husband that we didn't have to

have intercourse

> every time we had sex and now his back has help slow

him down a bit.

> It was hard because his fluids would itch and burn

me and if we used

> a condom the lube on them would eat me up. It was a

no win situation

> but we are learning many other ways to express out

love to each other

> and I feel we are closer because of not having the

pressure of

> intercourse.

> >

> > Beverly

>

=====

Gloria Lysa gloria9055@...

August 15, 2004

Ugh?

[alldiabeticinternational] Re: Yeast Infections and Diabetes