Incontinence and Diabetes

Jasmine Schmidt Health Professional Incontinence Educator Jasmine D. Schmidt is an educational consultant whose work experience... Send Message Subscribe: Jasmine Schmidt

Monday, December 04, 2006
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November was Diabetes Awareness Month – my apologies for not acknowledging it sooner, but I always figure better late than never. According to the American Diabetes Association, 20.8 million Americans have diabetes, a condition in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone n...

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incontinence in diabetics
DaveH
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at 01:41 PM

I recently posted a question about the problem above and as always mainly recieved a reply based on womens experiences.Pants and pads on the market are useless for the average male as they are designed for women!The only solution for me has been desmopressin,catheters or the external/texas catheter & leg bag.

Yours

Dave

Diabetes-Related Incontinence?
robbie jones
Friday, December 19, 2008 at 04:26 PM

I am a 64-year-old female who suffers from occasional urinary incontinence (can't hold the urine). I have also been diagnosed with diabetes for about 7 years. I was not incontinent until about two years ago. Is the incontinence related to the diabetes? My diabetes is well-controlled with an AIC of 7.0 for the past year or two.

re: Diabetes-Related Incontinence?
Jasmine Schmidt
Sunday, December 21, 2008 at 07:08 PM

I'm not a doctor or nurse, so I can't say for sure, and any doctor or nurse will probably want to evaluate you in person to say what the cause of your incontinence is. One thing to think about is whether your incontinence is caused by a problem with the muscles or nerves. Weakened pelvic floor muscles can cause stress urinary incontinence (leaking when you laugh, sneeze, cough, etc.), and is not usually linked to diabetes. Because diabetes can cause nerve damage, the incontinence more often linked with it is urge incontinence (sudden, intense, and frequent urge to urinate - sometimes you don't make it to the bathroom in time).

Good luck!

Jasmine

re: re: Diabetes-Related Incontinence?
robbie jones
Friday, December 26, 2008 at 03:06 PM

Yes, Jasmine, that sounds like what I have. Last year I had to take medication for nerve damage in my lower leg which, happily, resolved the problem quite a bit, and the pain has lessened greatly. So you're probably right that it's diabetic nerve damage that causes the urge continence. Actually, the problem doesn't rear its head that often, but when it does, it makes me nervous. I also use the Kegel occasionally, which seems to help. I am now doing exercise 3-4 times a week (various kinds--pilates, strength-training, low impact aerobics and the treadmill), in hopes that I can help my body. I feel good!!