If you have diabetes, you probably know that your body's ability to fight off disease, or your immune system, can be a little weaker. This makes you more susceptible to various infections. One of the most common infections that people with diabetes can get is thrush. We also call it 'Candidiasis' or 'Yeast Infection'. Although anyone can get it, it is a bit more risky for people with diabetes.
Simply put, when you have diabetes, your blood sugar levels are high. If you don't control your blood sugar levels well, over time, this high sugar level in your body becomes the perfect environment for this type of yeast to grow.
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How does fungus grow out of control?
In fact, various types of fungi and bacteria naturally live on our skin and inside our bodies. Usually, we don't even notice them. This is because there is a good balance between our immune system and these microorganisms. Because of this balance, they can't cause any trouble. But if for some reason this balance is broken, these bacteria or fungi can grow out of control and start causing infections.
Diabetes affects the function of our immune cells, which fight disease. This reduces the body's ability to protect and heal itself. As a result, infections like thrush are more likely to develop.
Yeast infections are especially problematic with diabetes, as sugar is a major factor in the growth of Candida .
When your blood sugar levels rise, the sugar levels in your saliva, sweat, and urine also rise. This encourages yeast to grow in places like your mouth and genitals. Eventually, you can develop a thrush infection.
Oral Thrush
It is very rare for a healthy adult to get a yeast infection in their mouth. But if you have diabetes, the extra sugar in your saliva gives this fungus a chance to grow. Also, the dry mouth caused by diabetes can help this fungus thrive. If you have Oral Thrush, you may notice these symptoms:
| Symptom | Description |
|---|---|
| Mouth and throat pain | Discomfort and pain when swallowing food or just chewing. |
| White spots | White, glue-like patches on the tongue, inside the cheeks, and on the roof of the mouth. These may bleed if you try to scrape them off. |
| Redness and bleeding | Redness inside the mouth and easy bleeding. |
| Bitter taste or loss of taste in the mouth | Losing the taste of food or having a constant bitter taste in the mouth. |
| Clefts on both sides of the lips | Red, cracked, and painful sores at the corners of the mouth (on both sides of the lips). |
If you have one or more of these symptoms, see your doctor immediately.
Yeast infections in the genital area
Genital yeast infections are very common in women, but men can also get them. Uncircumcised men are especially at risk. These infections have some very uncomfortable, obvious symptoms.
Symptoms in women
| Symptom |
|---|
| Unbearable itching and inflammation in the vagina and surrounding area. |
| Pain during urination or sexual intercourse. |
| Redness of the area. |
| A thick, white vaginal discharge (similar to curdled milk). |
Symptoms in men
| Symptom |
|---|
| Pain and redness around the front part of the penis (glans). |
| Itching and inflammation. |
| A white discharge, especially under the foreskin. |
| Pain when urinating or having sex. |
| A bad odor around the penis. |
If you have symptoms like these, it is very important to see your doctor and receive proper treatment without being embarrassed or delaying treatment.
Infections elsewhere on the skin
Thrush can also occur in other parts of your body, especially in areas where skin folds and moisture accumulate. For example:
- Under the breast
- In the armpits
- In the groin
- Between fingers and toes
You may see an itchy, red rash with small blisters and bumps in these areas.
In addition, this yeast infection can cause toenail fungus and foot ulcers. It can also cause urinary tract infections (UTIs), especially in people who use catheters.
The most serious type of yeast infection is invasive or systemic candidiasis. This is when the fungal infection spreads to the bloodstream or internal organs. This is a serious condition seen in hospitalized patients and can be life-threatening.
💡 Take-Home Message
- If you have diabetes, you are more susceptible to fungal infections like thrush because your immune system is weakened.
- The main reason for this is that the high sugar levels in your blood are a good source of food for a fungus called Candida.
- Thrush can occur in the mouth, genital areas, and moist skin folds.
- The most important thing you can do to prevent and control these types of infections is to keep your blood sugar levels well controlled.
- If you have the symptoms mentioned in this article, do not self-medicate or delay, but see your doctor immediately and seek proper advice and treatment.
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