Feeling thirsty is a normal occurrence in the body. It is primarily a response to the body’s need for hydration and maintaining proper fluid balance. It can occur due to several factors including diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic medical condition characterised by high blood sugar levels. It occurs when the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t effectively use insulin, which is a hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar.
In an interaction with the OnlyMyHealth team, Dr Satyam Chakraborty, Consultant Diabetology/Endocrinology, Fortis Anandapur Kolkata, discusses why thirst is a common symptom of diabetes and what else to watch out for.
Also Read: How Diabetes Can Affect Different Parts Of The Body
What Causes Thirst?
According to Britain’s National Health Services (NHS) inform, thirst is the brain’s way of warning against dehydration. The primary regulator of thirst is the hypothalamus, a region in the brain that plays a crucial role in maintaining body fluid balance. Specialised cells in the hypothalamus called osmoreceptors detect changes in the concentration of solutes, such as salt and electrolytes, in the bloodstream. When the concentration rises, indicating dehydration or increased salt levels, these cells are stimulated.
In addition, thirst is also regulated by the body’s need to maintain an adequate blood volume. If blood volume decreases, as in the case of blood loss or excessive sweating, the body signals the brain to trigger thirst to restore fluid balance.
Dr Chakraborty said, “It [thirst] mainly occurs due to drinking less water, continuous physical activities, especially outdoors and sweating too much due to the heat. Additionally, a person can feel thirsty if they are anxious or put in stressful situations. However, having regular and recurrent feelings of thirst is not normal. In many cases, this can be a cause of concern as usual thirst due to dehydration is never accompanied by frequent urination, unlike diabetes.”
Diabetes And Polydipsia
According to the doctor, excessive thirst, or polydipsia, is the most common sign of diabetes. “When cases of diabetes are not appropriately managed, they can always lead to a person feeling dehydrated. This is directly related to excessive urination, called polyuria, another symptom of diabetes. Both symptoms are caused due to the accumulation of sugar (glucose) in the blood,” she explained.
“Since patients with diabetes have the excess water drained out along with the extra glucose via urine, it creates a state of relative dehydration sensed by osmoreceptors in the brain leading to excessive thirst,” she added.
Other Common Symptoms Of Diabetes
Here are other symptoms of diabetes:
- Excessive hunger
- Slow healing
- Frequent infections
- Tired and fatigued
- Red, swollen, and tender gums
- Dry mouth
- Irritability
- Frequent mood swings
- Numbness and tingling sensation in hands and feet
- Sudden weight loss
- Can be asymptomatic, in some cases
How To Manage Diabetes
Dr Chakraborty said, “People who have type 2 diabetes show symptoms that are mild, which may then deteriorate over time. However, with Type 1 diabetes, the symptoms can be severe and worsen quickly over a short period.
According to her, although diabetes cannot be cured completely, it can be effectively and successfully managed by following:
- A strict diet
- Regular exercise
- Certain medications, such as insulin injections, metformin, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2 inhibitors), sulfonylureas, and thiazolidinedione
Conclusion
Remember to listen to your body’s thirst signals and drink water or other hydrating fluids to maintain proper hydration levels. Chronic or excessive thirst, however, could be a symptom of an underlying medical condition, so it’s always advisable to consult a healthcare professional.
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