diabetes and incontinence

by Diane K. Newman, RNC, MSN, CRNP, FAAN

More than 18 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes, while another 20 million are considered pre-diabetic.(1) Diabetes is a failure or reduction in the body's ability to process sugar, resulting in high blood sugar levels. Pre-diabetes occurs when blood sugar levels are higher than healthy levels but are too low to be diagnosed as diabetes.

Unfortunately, diabetic women also have a 70 percent greater risk of experiencing incontinence than non-diabetics.(2) The degree of risk depends on the severity of diabetic symptoms as well as their duration.

Increased thirst is a common symptom of diabetes that results in drinking more fluids and causing a more frequent and/or urgent need to urinate. Increased blood sugar levels can also cause irritation of the bladder, which can lead to incontinence. Nerve damage caused by diabetes may affect bladder function (diabetic cystopathy) and lead to loss of the sensation of bladder fullness, which reduces the ability to sense the need to go to the bathroom.Up to 85 percent of diabetics with numbness in their hands and/or feet will have diminished bladder sensation.(3) This decrease in sensation may cause the bladder to become overstretched from increased urine volume. Nerve damage may also keep the bladder from emptying completely. The bladder then becomes too full leading to urine leakage.
Some symptoms of diabetes:

excessive hunger/thirst
recurring bladder infections
fatigue/weakness
nausea/vomiting
blurred vision
urine leakage
numbness in hands and/or feet
muscle aches and cramps
vaginal dryness/soreness/itching
overflow incontinence
headaches
frequent/urgent need to urinate

Pelvic floor muscle exercises can help with at least four of the above symptoms (highlighted in blue.) These exercises improve blood flow to the genital area, which increases lubrication and improves the health of tissues lining the vagina as well as the muscles supporting the bladder. The increase in lubrication may prevent vaginal dryness, soreness and/or itching that is often is associated with pain during intercourse (Dysparenia.) Women may also experience an increase in vaginal sensation and arousal after a period of performing the exercises.

In addition to improved blood circulation and lubrication, pelvic muscle exercises also tone and strengthen the muscles responsible for supporting the pelvic organs (urethra, bladder, vagina, and rectum) and reduce the risk of prolapse and incontinence.

Benefits of pelvic muscles exercises:

improved blood flow to genital area that increases lubrication
prevention of prolapse
less frequent and/or urgent need to urinate
better bladder control
increased vaginal tone
proper emptying of the bladder

When used properly, our pelvic muscle rehabilitation products, Myself Pelvic Muscle Trainer and Femtone Vaginal Weights, increase vaginal tone and are clinically-proven to treat stress, urge, and/or mixed incontinence in women of all ages.(4)

References:

American Diabetic Association, 2004.
Brown et al. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2003.
O'Donnell. Urinary Incontinence. 1997.
Smith et al. JWOCN. 2000.

Last updated: August 10, 2005