Dehydration a Serious Risk for Diabetics
Eight to 10 glasses of water daily is recommended to everyone. Water is important to everybody, but specially for diabetics, because decreased hydration could cause serious health complications for them.
The Harvard School of Public Health calculated that more than 21 million Americans are living with the chronic disease, while almost double that number, around 41 million, have pre-diabetic conditions, Healthmad.com reports.
Diabetes among children is increasing alarmingly, with half of the cases being Type 2.
Staying hydrated is one of the many health care concerns among type 2 diabetes patients.
In diabetes type 2, insulin cannot perform its function properly, which is to transport glucose from blood to body tissues. The glucose, not being appropriately transported, may be released in the urine. As more water is released from the body, there is a risk of dehydration. Dehydration may further complicate the management of the chronic disease and lead to Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome.
HHNS is a condition of increasing blood sugar level. If HHNS continues, the severe dehydration will lead to seizure, coma and eventually death, according to the American Diabetes Association.