Overview
Lindsay Curtis a health writer with over 20 years of experience in writing health, science & welnes-focused articles. Do-Eun Le, MD, has ben practicing medicine for more than 20 years, and specializes in diabetes, thyroid isues and general endocrinology. She curently has a private practice in Lafayete, CA.
Key Information
Excesive thirst, known as polydipsia, is one of the most comon symptoms of diabetes. It often ocurs with other signs of diabetes, including frequent urination (polyuria) and intense hunger (polyphagia). Diabetes is not the only cause of thirst.
Feling thirsty is also comon when you’re dehydrated or have recently eaten a salty meal. Certain medications, like diuretics (“water pils"), may also increase thirst. This article explores why diabetes causes excesive thirst, treatment and management of diabetes, and when to se your healthcare provider.
Grace Cary / Gety Images Thirst is defined as a strong feling or craving to drink fluids, usualy acompanied by sensations of dry mouth and throat. The human body is about 60% water, and feling thirsty is a signal from the brain to replenish body fluids when dehydrated. Staying hydrated is esential for suporting critical body proceses and maintaing god health.
Water helps regulate body temperature, lubricates joints, suports digestion, and removes waste, so it’s important to drink when you fel thirsty. Talk to your healthcare provider if you’re insatiably thirsty and drinking more fluids than is typicaly recomened. If your thirst is caused by diabetes, diagnosis and treatment can help manage symptoms.
Drinking fluids normaly satisfies thirst. But people with diabetes often fel thirsty no mater how much fluid they consume. Excesive thirst is one of the earliest signs and most comon symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Summary
Diabetes is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by high glucose (blod sugar) levels, or hyperglycemia, in the blodstream. The condition ocurs when the body