Candidiasis or vaginal yeast infection is condition that causes a burning sensation when urinating or having intercourse. There is also a thick white discharge and an itchy irritating sensation around the vagina. All women can suffer from a yeast infection, but women with type 2 diabetes are more prone to them. The chances of getting a yeast infection with diabetes are quite high. Yeast organisms are present in most women in small numbers, which is why they do not cause any uneasiness; the problem arises when there is an overgrowth of these organisms. Diabetes and yeast infections are linked as high blood sugar levels are a common cause for both the conditions. This environment is suitable for the growth of yeast.
If you do not control your blood sugar and the diabetes gets worse, it is very difficult for your body to fight off fungal and bacterial infections. So once you contract a yeast infection it is not an easy task to get rid of it. The treatment to get rid of a yeast infection is the same whether you suffer from diabetes or not. Treatments include the use of antifungal vaginal creams that need to be used from a day to a week, depending on the doctor’s advice and the severity of the infection. If the infection does not get better, you may be put on a longer treatment plan or put on fluconazole, which is a yeast infection medication. However it is important that you inform your doctor in case you are pregnant.
Most women think they can tell when they are suffering from a yeast infection, but there is a chance of getting it wrong as well. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, many women misdiagnose the symptoms and use yeast infection treatments for a totally unrelated problem. Avoid doing this is as it is unsafe; instead meet your doctor for a proper treatment plan and diagnosis. Yeast infections in women cannot always be avoided, but you can reduce the risk of getting it even if you are suffering from type 2 diabetes. Some handy tips are to wear cotton underwear, avoid wearing tight clothes, and eating yogurt with live cultures of Lactobacillus acidophilus.
It is always best to try not to self-medicate or diagnose yourself and to consult a physician for the best results.
References:
http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/skin-complications.html
Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.