Why drink lots of water?

[slipperyelm]

I have sometimes seen advice on this forum that if a Type 2 finds their BG high, they should make sure to drink lots of water. What is the rationale to that? Is the hope that the glucose will be more easily or quickly urinated away if lots of water is consumed?

[Real4]

I have sometimes seen advice on this forum that if a Type 2 finds their BG high, they should make sure to drink lots of water. What is the rationale to that? Is the hope that the glucose will be more easily or quickly urinated away if lots of water is consumed?

It will let you feel like you are doing something useful and it is as about as harmless as you can get. A perfect placebo!

[jacobsam622]

I have sometimes seen advice on this forum that if a Type 2 finds their BG high, they should make sure to drink lots of water. What is the rationale to that? Is the hope that the glucose will be more easily or quickly urinated away if lots of water is consumed?
You find this advice in most books and web sites dealing with high bg and Its what my diabetes educator told me three years ago.
Drink plenty of fluids when the blood glucose is high-water or diet (sugar—free) drinks. This helps to lower the blood glucose and prevent dehydration.

[matingara]

This helps to lower the blood glucose and prevent dehydration.

the body has an excellent dehydration warning system. it is called "thirst".

funny that.

[BlueSky]

The benefit of drinking water is to avoid dehydration. It can become an issue with very high blood glucose, like 400+. But I can't see that drinking water would have much effect on blood glucose at lower levels. The renal threshold for most people is about 180. There is no point in drinking water if BG is below this level as glucose is not spilling into the urine and you don't dehydrate. As matingara points out, if you need to replace water, you will get thirsty.

[Beowulf]

I have sometimes seen advice on this forum that if a Type 2 finds their BG high, they should make sure to drink lots of water. What is the rationale to that? Is the hope that the glucose will be more easily or quickly urinated away if lots of water is consumed?

Another benefit to drinking water is helping get out of DKA. If you are throwing keytones in your urine drinking lots of water will not only help bring down your BG (albeit very little) but it helps flush your system.

[Carwy]

I was told by a urologist to drink lots of water. Your urine should be clear. This keeps you hydrated and help to prevent kidney stones, which hurt like heck.

[The_QUIET_one]

Hmm I dunno if this is true but I heard someware that drinking water might thin the blood and make the sugar less concentrated? I dont know, your probably right though, cant see why that would really effect it very much...

[Cloudedbrains]

I was told to drink to plenty of water as it helps to shift the ketones that show up when I get very high :)

[bryan42]

I read that when anyone, not just diabetics, dont feel good, at least 1/2 the time, it was because we are dehydrated and are not aware of it? It makes sense to the point, where are bodies are made up of so much water,and if we dont keep hydrated, things would start not working right. (just a thought)

[Real4]

Hmm I dunno if this is true but I heard someware that drinking water might thin the blood and make the sugar less concentrated? I dont know, your probably right though, cant see why that would really effect it very much...

There's a set of major physiological system and sub-systems to control the ion balance in blood and other body fluids. It is just about impossible to "thin the blood."

[BlueSky]

... I heard someware that drinking water might thin the blood and make the sugar less concentrated? ....
I have also heard that one. And it really doesn't make much sense. Consider the background. We have about 5 litres of blood in our bodies. At normal BG levels, there is the quivalent of about 1 teaspoon of sugar disolved into all this blood. If you are not dehydrated, drinking water is not going to affect the volume of your blood by much. So it won't make a noticeable difference to the concentration of glucose in it. But even if you are dehydrated, you would need to drink a huge amount of water to make a noticeable difference.

About ketones, it is useful to understand where they come from. Ketones are produced when you are burning fat. And they only become dangerous when this happens on a large scale. Typically, it happens when there is inadequate insulin. High blood sugar, by itself, will not cause ketones to be produced. So if your blood sugar goes high because of the big meal you have just consumed, there is really no need to drink lots of water. It won't make any difference.

[Evermont]

Drinking water displaces other beverages. Can anyone here think of any beverage healthier than water?

http://www.liquidsculpture.com/images/content/water-drop-116830.jpg

[xMenace]

My DE is adamant that dehydration can cause liver dumps. It's always her first suggestion for preventing high BGs: drink lots of water and make sure you eat lots! Pffft!

[Evermont]

It is also commonly suggested that water aids in digestion and lubricates the joints which is important to avoid injury in frequent exercise.

Drinking water is also important to hydrate before and rehydrate during vigorous exercise, so if you think you're drinking too much water - just exercise more!

Water is also lost just exhaling and also through imperceptible perspiration both while awake and while sleeping. Think of it as basal dehydration.

Of course many foods and most beverages contain water so part of the total requirement is acquired that way.

About 6 years ago I made a conscious effort to drink more water. I guess I reacquired a liking for it before too long. I don't need anymore ideas about why water is important now, I just plain LIKE water. It makes me feel good.

[davef]

I really don't know if or how drinking water would directly reduce somebodies BG, I do think Keith has a point about it replacing other drinks and that may be part of the thinking. I wonder if another consideration is many (I didn't say all) Type 2's can benefit from losing weight and it is often recommended to drink plenty of water while trying to lose weight. I have heard two reasons, that would appear to have some logic to them for doing so, (1) Drinking water can give you a full feeling when eating less and (2) It's said that the consumption of the water keeps your digestive system working.

Personally, I do find I lose weight better when drinking water.

[BrianSCohen]

Drinking water to keep blood sugar low. That is crazy. Drinking vast amounts of water will leach things out of the blood, that is the bodies way of dealing with fatally dangerous conditions like high blood sugar. This is not a good blood sugar management tool. Drinking too much water is not good. You will lose sodium, potassium and other things that you need for balanced electrolytes in your body. Drink enough to satisfy thirst, at least a half gallon or so a day. If your urine is dilute (not bright yellow) you are probably fine. Drink more than two gallons a day and you may have problems. Still thirsty on two gallons a day and you definitely should see a dr. Personally, I drink on the high end, generally getting a least a gallon a day or more. However, I have at times felt at risk of overhydration and during long days outside I know I am at risk from electrolyte problems.

[jacobsam622]

If you have water in your blood stream you may be drowning and I would guess in fresh water. I here it can be very painful.:eek: That being said Drinking water keeps the body hydrated. If you lose to much water because of the high blood sugar you risk damage to your body like coma.:eek: So yes you should drink lots of water when your bg get over 275. The best remedy for high bg( > 275 ) is exercise and drink plenty of water.

[jacobsam622]

Drinking more water is suppose to delute the content of your stomach. Does it work who cares if your mind believes maybe your body will follow. placebos work on a large percentage of the population.:D

[slipperyelm]

Drinking more water is suppose to delute the content of your stomach. Does it work who cares if your mind believes maybe your body will follow. placebos work on a large percentage of the population.:D

Does it work for what?

[jacobsam622]

Does it work for what?Doe it lower your BG. Did you forget what we were talking about! Sounds like you need to drink water.:D

[jerryn]

If you hydrate enough you can dillute the glucose in body.

[UpNorth]

I have sometimes seen advice on this forum that if a Type 2 finds their BG high, they should make sure to drink lots of water. What is the rationale to that? Is the hope that the glucose will be more easily or quickly urinated away if lots of water is consumed?



High bloodsugar makes you lose fluid through the frequent urinating caused by highs. So it's important to keep hydrated when being high :T