If a diabetic doesn't drink enough water, they risk worsening high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and severe dehydration, creating a dangerous cycle that can lead to confusion, kidney problems, seizures, coma, or life-threatening conditions like Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) or Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State (HHS). Water helps flush excess glucose, so a lack of it concentrates blood sugar and stresses the kidneys, making management harder.
Dehydration
Dehydration, or not drinking enough fluids, can increase your blood sugar. “When dehydrated, your blood becomes more concentrated with glucose,” Tambe said. Research has shown that inadequate fluid intake is associated with hyperglycemia or high blood sugar.
People who have had diabetes for some time might also notice headaches due to changes in blood sugar levels. A headache can signify hyperglycemia when blood sugar levels are too high. They can also occur with hypoglycemia when blood sugar levels are too low.
Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water per day. This equates to about 2-2.5 litres. Monitor your urine colour. Pale yellow or clear urine indicates good hydration, while dark yellow urine suggests you need to drink more.
Mix up your water options.
Try adding some fruit, like pineapple , watermelon , or lemon, or vegetables and herbs, like cucumber or mint. Choose seltzer or sparkling water over juices and sugary beverages.
Over time, high blood sugar from diabetes can damage blood vessels in the kidneys and nephrons. Many people with diabetes also develop high blood pressure, which can damage kidneys too. Diabetes can reduce how well kidneys filter waste, leading to chronic kidney disease.
Someone who is hypoglycaemic (having a low blood sugar diabetic emergency) may have symptoms including:
Avoid sugary drinks whenever possible because not only can they raise blood sugar levels, but they can also contribute many calories to the recommended daily calorie intake.
“The best way to reverse type 2 diabetes is to decrease your body's resistance to the actions of the insulin made by the pancreas,” she said. “For most people, this means trying to attain a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and minimizing sugars and excessive carbohydrates in your diet.”
If you urinate often, and your pee is very light-colored or even clear, it could be a sign of diabetes.
Physical symptoms: reduced activity, low energy, tiredness, decreased physical endurance, increased effort to do physical tasks, general weakness, heaviness, slowness or sluggishness, nonrestorative sleep, and sleepiness.
Coffee—even without sweetener. Some people's blood sugar is extra-sensitive to caffeine. Losing sleep—even just one night of too little sleep can make your body use insulin less well. Skipping breakfast—going without that morning meal can increase blood sugar after both lunch and dinner.
Symptoms of dehydration
Managing diabetes can be hard
You also need to remember to take your medicine and make other good decisions about your health throughout the day. You may also worry about having low or high blood sugar levels, the costs of your medicines, and developing diabetes-related complications.
Symptoms of hyperglycaemia
Examples of the worst foods for diabetics include:
Fruits to avoid with diabetes
While you don't need to avoid these high glycemic fruits, you should limit or eat them in moderation: Bananas. Mangoes. Pineapple.
Aim for at least eight cups of water per day and try to drink a glass of water first thing in the morning.
EMERGENCY – You are in the danger zone if you have:
Blood glucose that is still less than 4 mmol/L after 3 attempts to treat low blood sugar. Blood glucose that is greater than 20 mmol/L for more than 8 hours and you are symptomatic (if you have Type 2 Diabetes).
Diabetes Burnout refers to when someone is fed up with dealing with diabetes. They might have problems with their diabetes or problems in other areas of life that get in the way of diabetes care. In burnout the person usually neglects their diabetes care and feels they can't cope with it.
If you notice the following symptoms, make an appointment to get care:
End-stage diabetes, also known as late-stage diabetes, occurs when the disease progresses to a point where it significantly impacts the body's ability to function. This stage may involve complications such as chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, nerve damage (neuropathy) and chronic infections.
If the damage gets bad enough, the kidneys can stop working. Kidney damage can't be reversed. And you may not feel it until there's a lot of damage.
Three key early warning signs of kidney problems are changes in urination (more or less frequent, especially at night), foamy or bloody urine, and persistent swelling, particularly around the eyes, feet, or ankles, indicating fluid retention. Other common signs include persistent fatigue, nausea, itching, and loss of appetite, as toxins build up when kidneys aren't filtering effectively.