Health experts recommend drinking water regularly for good health. However, you should be somehow concerned if you find yourself getting thirsty more frequently than usual, especially when the weather is cold or when you’re not engaged in any physical activity. Also, if this is accompanied by frequent urination, it would be a good idea to get tested for type 2 diabetes.
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Diabetes and thirst
Certain foods such as spicy or salty foods can cause make you feel dehydrated, as well as excessive sweating, vomiting and or diarrhoea. Pregnancy and certain medications could also make you reach for a glass of water more frequently than normal. But if your constant thirst for water is not caused by any of these, you may have type 2 diabetes. According to the NHS:
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that makes it difficult to control the level of sugar (glucose) in your blood. The high levels of glucose can mean your kidneys need to produce more urine to help pass the glucose out of your body. This can make you feel thirsty because your brain is telling you to drink more to make up for the fluids you've lost.
If feeling thirsty all the time is accompanied by other symptoms including unexplained weight loss, fatigue and frequent urination, you should see a doctor, according to the health service.
Other signs of diabetes
Apart from feeling thirsty all the time and the resultant frequent urination, there are some other signs that point to diabetes. According to Michigan State University, some of the signs to look out for include:
- Feeling very hungry - even though you are eating
- Blurry vision
- Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
- Genital itchiness
- Nausea
- Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands/feet
Sources used:
NHS Inform: About Thirst
Diabetes.co.uk: Polydipsia
Michigan State University: Feeling thirsty and diabetes
