Is Dry Mouth a Sign of Diabetes?

Among the various symptoms that diabetes can cause in the human body, some are still unknown or easily confused with other natural factors in the body. One of these symptoms is dry mouth, which can occur due to the increase in blood sugar levels or even side effects to the use of diabetes treatment drugs, but it can also be indicative not related to the disease itself, such as: sleeping with your mouth open, smoking or lack of hydration. Therefore, we can say that dry mouth is not always a sign of diabetes , but it is a symptom to be investigated.

What is Boca Seca (Xerostomia)?

The dry mouth, also known as xerostomia by medicine, is the sensation of dryness literally caused by the absence of saliva. Saliva has an important factor in the food digestion process , which helps to wash food particles and bacteria out of the teeth, in addition to neutralizing oral acids preventing gum disease and tooth decay .

Dry mouth can lead to some other problems such as yeast infections ( oral candidiasis ), infections in the salivary glands, some oral lesions and sensitivity / irritation in the corners of the mouths, causing very annoying injuries.

How to Improve the Feeling of Dry Mouth?

The ideal is for everyone to maintain preventive care, but if it is already happening the best thing to do is to find out the cause. If you use medicines to treat diabetes, you can be told your endocrine to change the type of substance or change the dosage to see results. If the cause is a steady rise in blood glucose levels, strictly monitoring levels and keeping them under control through careful diet can yield quick results.

It is worth remembering that the treatment of diabetes goes far beyond taking medications and controlling the foods consumed and their quantities. In order to obtain a satisfactory treatment and controlled glucose levels, it is necessary to follow a specific diet, use the medication in the manner indicated by the doctor and practice physical activity, in addition to following any other guidelines that the specialist may give for your specific case.

Reinforcing hydration, making sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day is also a great way to reduce the feeling of dry mouth. If you have difficulties in drinking the recommended amount of water (2 liters per day), a tip is to take small sips throughout the day, keeping a bottle of fresh water nearby, makes it a lot easier. Avoiding salty or very sweet foods also helps to control hydration.

IMPORTANT: One way to keep salivation active is to chew sugar-free gum or suck sugar-free candy.

If none of the tips work, talk to your doctor about saliva stimulation through mouthwashes or Salagen. There is also the option of artificial saliva used in spray or liquid, which can be found in pharmacies and drugstores. Oral health care is essential to alleviate those who suffer from dry mouth. Brush your teeth at least 3 times a day after meals and floss at least once a day.

Taking advantage of the space, I want to tell a news to our readers who are trying to get pregnant. In partnership with the company Famivita, we have developed a line of specialized products for health and fertility. Among them are FamiFerti fertility vitamins, ViriFerti fertility vitamins, ovulation tests and the FamiGel fertility-friendly lubricating gel , which plays the role of mucus, increasing sperm mobility as well as increasing pleasure. You can find each of these products here in our online store.

Main Causes of Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)

In addition to the causes reported above, such as diabetes and the use of diabetes treatment medications, dry mouth may be related to several other factors, including: use of high blood pressure medications, decongestants, some analgesics , diuretics and some antidepressants also cause this side effect. Therefore, it is always recommended that you talk to your doctor to analyze the condition and, if necessary, change the substance used or modify the dosage to observe improvements.

Menopausal women may also suffer from dry mouth, as hormonal disruption can alter and affect the functioning of the salivary glands. Patients undergoing cancer treatment who use radiotherapy and chemotherapy may also experience the symptom of dry mouth.

How to Identify Dry Mouth?

When we speak of dry mouth automatically linked to the sensation of thirst, but the symptoms go beyond that sensation and begin to present in more evident signs such as frequent bad breath, a sensation of stickiness in the mouth, metallic taste in the mouth and even some difficulty when chewing . The lips may be dry, chapped and dry throat.

Symptoms of Diabetes

As we have already explained about the possibilities of the symptom of dry mouth feeling being considered a sign of diabetes, we will report the main symptoms of diabetes that must be taken into account in order to seek medical attention. Diabetes is a metabolic syndrome with multiple origins that is characterized by a lack of insulin or an inability to produce insulin in the body, responsible for the pancreas. With this inability, blood glucose (sugar) levels rise and cause characteristic symptoms and can lead the patient to serious health and life risks, since insulin is responsible for controlling these blood glucose levels. Among the main symptoms of diabetes are:

  • Frequent urge to urinate;
  • Increased appetite;
  • Excessive thirst;
  • Fast weight loss;
  • Vision change

These symptoms occur due to insufficient production of insulin in the body and with the increase in glucose, the body starts to react showing these signs. But it is necessary to emphasize that diabetes is divided into some types and with that the symptoms can also vary. For example, in type 2 diabetes, the disease is considered asymptomatic and therefore the patient may have it for many years and not see symptoms.

This type can be acquired by anyone and in any age group. Usually due to bad eating habits in conjunction with a sedentary and unruly life or due to family history.

Type 1 diabetes, which is the rarest type of the disease , is linked to genetic inheritance in conjunction with viral infections, so it can manifest itself in any age group, being more common in children and young people. In this case, the symptoms are more evident, such as weakness, constant fatigue, sudden changes in mood, nausea, vomiting, nervousness, in addition to all the symptoms reported above. If you notice these changes, it is recommended to see a doctor quickly for evaluation and start the appropriate treatment.

Website | + posts

My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.

Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.

Dr. Alexis Hart

My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts