Diabetes Over View

Yeast Infections and Diabetes

Studies show nearly 3 out of every 4 women will experience a yeast infection at least once in their life. For women with diabetes, however, the risk is even higher. Why is this the case, and what should women with diabetes do about it?

Yeast infections are a problem every woman should be aware of. Studies show that nearly three out of every four women will experience this condition at least once. But women with diabetes are at even higher risk and it's even more important for them to keep in contact with their doctors.

It's important to understand what elevated blood glucose will do. When the blood sugar elevates, 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?

No, it's not different. An elevated blood sugar is basically acting 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 make them a little bit safer from developing yeast infections?

Well, the physicians make a diagnosis of diabetes when the blood sugar is above 126. Our goals are to have the morning and before-meal blood sugar around 100-110 and then, after a meal, no more than 140. Now that's what the normal is. What the researchers have found is that when we extended that people developed problems. So we aim for the normal numbers.

How about some other general prevention tips to avoid developing a yeast infection?

Many women who have a yeast infection automatically assume that they're diabetic. The reality is that most are not diabetic. That yeast infections come from lots of reasons. Antibiotic use can cause yeast infections, wet bathing suits for long periods of time can cause yeast infections, oral contraceptive pills can cause yeast infections so there are many other causes.

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

The first thing she should do is visiting 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?

In order to make a diagnosis, one should do a slide test under the microscope of vaginal secretions to see if one sees the yeast organism that causes 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. Most patients, one can make the diagnosis with the slide test under the microscope.

It's really important for women to come in 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 treatment options for a diabetic woman with a yeast infection?

A diabetic woman can use all the same treatment options that a woman who does not have diabetes can use. That if she prefers oral, she can use oral. If she prefers a vaginal treatment, she can use a vaginal treatment.

Do yeast infections in women take longer to treat in some cases?

There is many therapies that one could use. One-day therapies, three-day therapies, seven-days or fourteen-days. And usually, patients who are diabetic need the longer therapy, not the shorter.

One of the mistakes that a patient may commit is that she would go for a one-day or a three-day therapy. It's probably not going to be as effective as having a seven- or fourteen-day therapy.

Is there a benefit to topical verses pill?

Patients can be allergic to either. Also there's the potential for drug interactions if one is taking a medication on a long-term basis. So for example, for chronic recurrent disease many individuals would prefer a topical therapy rather than the oral because the oral could interfere with some of the medications that the patient is taking.

There are a lot of products will bill themselves as sort of an over-the-counter treatment, diagnose and treat yourself. Is it advisable, especially for women with diabetes who develop a yeast infection?

It's advisable once the woman knows what she's dealing with. That she's seen her physician, that she knows the symptoms, the physician has looked at the vaginal secretions and confirmed -- under the microscope -- that indeed she has a yeast infection and that she certainly can treat recurrent ones when she understands what a yeast infection is, what it feels like.