Diabetes and Recurrent Yeast Infections: What's the Connection?

Roughly 12% of Americans have diabetes — a chronic medical condition that can cause a lot of side effects and complications. One of those side effects is an increased risk of yeast infections, including recurrent infections that can be difficult to manage.

At Feminine Urgicare, our team offers patient-centered care for stubborn yeast infections, including care tailored specifically to the needs of women with diabetes. In recognition of National Diabetes Month, our team is dedicating this post to helping our patients learn about the link between these two conditions and how we can help them break the cycle.

Diabetes and recurrent yeast infections

Yeast infections happen when a fungus (usually Candida albicans) multiplies rapidly in a specific area of your body. These fungi naturally exist in small quantities in the mouth, intestines, and vagina. However, when conditions are right, populations grow dramatically, resulting in infection.

While the immune system typically keeps these fungi in check, diabetes can lower your immune system’s strength and activity, making it easier for yeast infections to occur. That’s because elevated blood sugar (glucose) levels impair the disease-fighting activity of immune system agents like white blood cells, increasing the risk of recurrent infections.

When glucose is poorly controlled, excess sugar accumulates in warm, moist areas like the vagina. Fungi feed on the extra glucose, making it easier for fungal populations to grow and cause infections.

Breaking the cycle

Recurrent yeast infections are uncomfortable and embarrassing. They can also be difficult to treat and prevent. Fortunately, you can take steps to help keep your infections under control.

Manage your glucose levels

Managing your blood sugar is one of the most important things you can do to reduce your risk of yeast infections and other diabetes-related complications. Work closely with our team to create a diabetes management plan that works for your needs and lifestyle, including a healthy eating plan, regular exercise, stress management, glucose monitoring, and medication use when needed. 

Practice good hygiene

Keeping the skin around your vagina clean and dry and showering regularly helps keep fungal populations in check, and it also removes moisture that could provide an environment for yeast growth. 

Avoid tight-fitting underwear and pants, as well as clothing made of synthetic fibers that can trap moisture. Shower and change into dry clothing immediately after swimming or working out.

Monitor for symptoms

Yeast infections cause symptoms like: 

• Vaginal or vulvar itching, burning, or discomfort
• Redness and swelling
• Abnormal vaginal discharge
• Pain during intercourse or urination

Monitoring for symptoms helps you begin treatment as soon as possible before the infection progresses to a more severe (and challenging to treat) stage.

Boost your immunity

Because a weakened immune response can lead to recurrent yeast infections, doing all you can to strengthen your immunity makes sense. In addition to proactively managing your glucose levels, you can boost immune function by maintaining a healthy eating plan, improving your sleep habits, managing stress, and being active.

Seek professional treatment

There are over-the-counter products to help fight yeast infections. However, they’re not as effective as prescription products, particularly if you have diabetes. 

To manage recurrent yeast infections, it’s important to call our office at the first sign of symptoms so we can develop a treatment plan to relieve those symptoms and help prevent infections in the future.

Find relief for recurrent infections

Yeast infections are challenging to treat on your own. What’s more, these infections share some characteristics with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), making early medical intervention even more critical.

If you have a yeast infection or are prone to recurrent infections, we can help you find long-lasting relief. To learn more, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Feminine Urgicare in Paramus, New Jersey, today.