During the process of diabetes treatment, it is easy to have complications of hypoglycemia, and if you are not careful, the patient may fall into a coma. Therefore, many patients pay great attention to their diet. So, how much water should diabetic patients drink each day for optimal health?
I. Is liking to drink water a precursor to diabetes
Dry mouth and excessive thirst are symptoms of diabetes. Patients with diabetes often have a significantly increased water intake, as well as an increased frequency and volume of urination. This is the most convenient way to detect diabetes. Especially when waking up from sleep due to extreme thirst and drinking water, it may indicate that the condition has worsened. Normally, a person's daily urine output is 1-1.5 liters, but diabetic patients often have a urine output of 2-4 liters, and some patients even have a urine output of 10 liters. The urine contains an increased amount of glucose, emits a sweet and sour odor, produces a lot of foam, and attracts insects. In this case, immediate medical treatment is necessary because dry mouth is the earliest symptom of diabetes.
II. How much water should diabetic patients drink each day for optimal health
Many diabetic patients, in order to control their symptoms of excessive thirst and frequent urination, avoid drinking water even when they are thirsty or try to drink as little water as possible. Although this may seem to alleviate the symptoms of excessive thirst and frequent urination, it actually leads to an objectively increased blood sugar level, which worsens the condition of diabetes. According to relevant data analysis, improper water intake exacerbates the condition in 10-20% of diabetic patients.
In fact, diabetic patients, like ordinary people, need an average of 2500 milliliters of water each day. In addition to the water contained in their diet, they also need 1600-2000 milliliters of water from external sources.
III. How should diabetic patients drink water
Diabetic patients can choose to drink plain water, weak tea, mineral water, etc., but should avoid drinking sugary drinks. In addition, when consuming a large amount of protein, engaging in intense exercise, or sweating a lot, it is necessary to drink more water appropriately.
Milk and soy milk are good drinks for diabetic patients to replenish water. Drinking milk and soy milk every day can improve calcium deficiency. Soy milk also contains a certain amount of dietary fiber, making it more suitable for diabetic patients who are overweight, have high blood lipids, and high blood pressure. How does excessive drinking occur in diabetic patients?
As we all know, the kidneys in the human body have the function of regulating glucose concentration. When the blood glucose concentration is lower than 10.0 mmol/L, the valve for glucose in the kidneys is closed. When the blood glucose concentration exceeds 10.0 mmol/L, the valve opens, allowing glucose to enter the urine and causing glucosuria. When the concentration of glucose in the urine is too high, it creates an osmotic diuretic effect, causing excessive loss of water from the body along with the glucosuria.
Due to excessive loss of water in the body, the plasma osmotic pressure increases, stimulating the thirst center, and causing the patient to feel thirsty. This requires drinking more water to replenish the lost water and relieve the symptoms of thirst. From this, it can be seen that drinking more water is actually a way to replenish the water lost in the body. Drinking more water also improves blood transport function, enhances circulation, accelerates metabolism, and eliminates ketones. It is a protective response to dehydration in the body. Therefore, not only should diabetic patients not restrict their water intake, but they should also be encouraged to drink more water.
