On the road to health and wellness, drinking water seems to be a topic that can't be simpler. But for diabetics, drinking water has become a matter that requires "careful budgeting". Many sugar friends fall into the "drinking water tangle syndrome" because of the symptoms of polydipsis and polyuria: is it better to drink more water or less water? Today, let's uncover the correct posture for diabetics to drink water.

Diabetic drinking water "misunderstandings"

Drinking water, for ordinary people, is like "filling up the body", and 2000~0 ml of water per day can meet the daily needs of the body. But for diabetics, drinking water is like walking a tightrope. Because of the symptoms of polydipsia and polyuria, many sugar friends feel that the more water they drink, the more times they go to the toilet, so they begin to limit their water intake. They believe that as long as they drink less water, they can reduce the problem of polyuria. However, this thinking is a huge misunderstanding.

In fact, diabetic patients experience polydipsia and polyuria not because they drink too much water, but because of osmotic diuresis caused by high blood sugar. When blood sugar rises, the amount of glucose in the blood increases, like adding a handful of "salt" to the blood, causing the osmotic pressure of the blood to rise. When the kidneys metabolize these glucoses, they reduce the reabsorption of water and electrolytes due to increased solute concentrations in the tubular fluid, resulting in polyuria. Polyuria, in turn, can further lead to a lack of hydration in the body, triggering thirst and forming a vicious circle.

If sugar lovers drink less water because they are afraid of urine, it will make the blood more viscous, just like the blood becomes "thicker" in the blood vessels, making it more difficult to flow. This will not only lead to a further increase in blood sugar, which will worsen the condition of diabetes, but may also lead to other serious complications such as hyperosmolar dehydration, diabetic ketoacidosis, etc. According to the analysis of relevant data, the aggravation of diabetes caused by improper drinking water is 20%~0%. Therefore, it is essential for diabetics to drink water scientifically.

Why do diabetics need to drink more water?

Drinking plenty of water, for diabetics, is like injecting a steady stream of water into the body's "river", keeping the blood in a "diluted" state, reducing blood sugar concentration, and promoting metabolism. When blood sugar rises, the body excretes excess glucose through osmotic diuresis. Drinking plenty of water can help the body do this process better, reduce glucose accumulation in the blood, and lower blood sugar levels.

In addition, drinking plenty of water helps the body flush out metabolic waste. People with diabetes don't have enough insulin and their bodies can't fully use glucose for energy, so they start breaking down fats and proteins. In this process, a large amount of metabolic waste products - ketone bodies are produced. If ketones accumulate too much in the blood, diabetic ketoacidosis can occur. Drinking plenty of water can help the body excrete excess ketones through urine, reduce ketone concentrations, and prevent ketoacidosis.

At the same time, drinking plenty of water can also relieve the symptoms of dry skin. Diabetic patients tend to have dry and chapped skin due to high blood sugar. Sufficient moisture can keep the skin moisturized and reduce the occurrence of skin problems. In addition, drinking plenty of water can also improve blood circulation, prevent blood from becoming too viscous, and reduce the risk of complications such as diabetic foot.

How do diabetics drink water scientifically?

Drinking water, for diabetics, is not only a "compulsory course", but also a "technical job". So, how should sugar friends drink water scientifically?

Get enough water

Diabetic patients should drink water at the level of or even exceed the level of normal people, and they need to drink at least 2000~0 ml of water every day. Since the body of a diabetic patient is relatively weak in its ability to absorb and excrete water, it needs more water to maintain the body's normal metabolism. It's like watering arid land with more water and keeping the body's "soil" moist.

Choose the right drink

Diabetics need to be as careful when choosing drinks as they are about "healthy ingredients". Sugary drinks should be avoided as these can directly cause a rise in blood sugar. Instead, you can choose sugar-free drinks such as plain water, mineral water, weak tea, milk, and soy milk. Milk and soy milk not only replenish water, but also provide abundant high-quality protein, which helps to maintain the body's nutritional balance.

Use a "small amount, drink more" approach

When diabetic patients drink water, they should use the method of "drinking a small amount and drinking more" like a "thin stream of water". Drink a small amount of water at a time, but drink water frequently, so as to maintain the balance of water in the body and avoid "water poisoning" caused by drinking a large amount of water at one time. Especially in the hot summer, the body loses water quickly, so it is more important to pay attention to replenishing water in time.

Drink slowly and avoid heavy drinking

The speed at which you drink water is also very important. Diabetics should drink water slowly and avoid heavy drinking. If you drink a lot of water in a short period of time, the blood will be diluted, and some of the water will be quickly converted into sweat and excreted, resulting in excessive salt loss in the body, which will cause "water poisoning". It's like when you refuel a car, you can't fill it up too much at once, otherwise it will overflow. Therefore, sugar lovers should replenish water slowly and evenly to give the body enough time to absorb.

Diabetics drink water "tips"

Drinking water, for diabetics, is not only a physiological need, but also a health strategy. In addition to the above-mentioned scientific drinking methods, sugar friends can also develop a personalized drinking plan according to their actual situation. For example, you can drink a glass of water 30 minutes before a meal to help control your appetite and reduce the amount of food you eat. You can drink an appropriate amount of water before and after exercise to maintain the body's water balance; You can drink a moderate amount of water before bedtime, but not too much, so as not to affect the quality of sleep.

In addition, diabetics should also pay attention to their body reactions. If you experience uncomfortable symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, vomiting, etc., during the process of drinking water, you should seek medical attention in time. At the same time, it is also very important to monitor blood sugar levels regularly. By monitoring your blood sugar, you can understand the effect of drinking water on your blood sugar and adjust the amount and frequency of water you drink.

Drinking water is not only a "science" but also an "art" for diabetics. Drinking water scientifically can help sugar friends better control blood sugar and prevent complications. Therefore, sugar friends should abandon the misconception of "drinking less water" and actively adopt scientific drinking methods to make drinking water a healthy lifestyle.

Proofread by Zhuang Wu