....How do I say.. yeast infections
 

So I was getting these raging yeast infections that sometimes had to be treated for over a week with creams and oral medications before they would go away. This happened for about a year and a half. Then, last week, I decided to have an A1C drawn, just for the heck of it. As a nurse, I tend to be a little on the hypochondriac side and think I need to be tested for EVERYTHING. Turns out, diabetes is what I have. A1C was 7.6. Not sky high, but definitely diabetic.

So I wanted to ask you ladies if you deal with yeast infections and if so, how? Do you treat them like normal yeast infections or do you try to treat it with diet (to decrease blood sugars) and natural methods instead?

Temperance:confused:

I totally feel you. I've dealt with the same issues. They come in phases: when my blood sugars are high during certain times due to stress or instability, I tend to get yeast infections chronically. Keep your blood sugars down and they will not come as often.

Because of my blood sugars spiking so much, they also take a LOT to get rid of. I don't use the creams anymore because they burn really bad, so instead my doctor prescribes multiple Diflucans, and I take them once a day until it goes away (sometimes it takes 3 or 4, which is HORRIBLE because they are very damaging to certain organs).

I've also similarly dealt with urinary tract infections, because to rid of them you take some kind of antibiotic (I think) that I was told can cause yeast infections. Then, I'm told that sometimes the Diflucans for yeast infections cause UTIs. So annoying! Every so often, I'll get them back and forth. It's miserable.

I've had my blood sugars in better control this past year, and have only had one UTI and a couple YIs here and there, but overall it's been a huge improvement. This is very common for diabetics. If you know you're blood sugars have been high and you are concerned, it supposedly helps to take cranberry pills (although I don't know how preventative they are in comparison to high blood sugar's power). With an A1C of 7.6, I'd guess that you will not have as much of a problem with YIs though -- my A1C ranges from 8-10! Embarrassing. Keep yours at 7!

I plan to bring my a1c under 5 if I can. I want to lve a normal life without having a glucometer as my sidekick. That said, I have noticed no more yeast infections since my diagnosis and subsequent change in lifestyle. Now if I can only get used to the metformin!

ditto to the yeast
 

I hear you. I had a raging one for almost a year before I got really serious about my sugar. I made excuses to myself for it hanging on that my constant tennis playing made it hang on due to the damp conditions down there in the tennis outfit! Right! I was in total denial-well needless to say, it has gone away now that my A1C is under better control. I used all of the usual things, creams, difflucan etc, but the only thing that brought it in check was lowering my sugar. I am type 2 and was on metphormin for a couple years, only when I got really serious last summer and started my insulin therapy with diet and exercise did things get better. I had an A1C of 13 in April 2009 and when I had my last A1C test in April 2010 it is now 6.6. It has been going down steadily since I started, but for me the insulin was the answer. Work on getting your sugar under control and you should see some relief.

hello everyone.. i know diabetes can cause women to have more yeast infections but I for one am very allergic to Dial soap! if i even touch a bar I can't walk for a week with a yeast infection... it is banned from my house and my job...so be aware of these things also. along with the high sugar something else may be adding to the reoccurring infections

I never made this connection before! It gives me something to think about.

After having type 1 for 30 years, I finally stopped the yeast infection "roller coaster". Yogurt, yogurt, yogurt. This will also help digestive problems.

Strangely I never got a yeast infection
 

I wanna know is it normal not getting yeast infections when your a1c is usually in 9% :confused:. I hear you ladies getting them when your in the 7% range? :confused: Im not sure if my body is just weird or if I have had them and never knew???? :confused:
_________
~Pj:p

Chronic yeast infections was one of the big symptoms I ignored prior to being diagnosed 5 years ago, and they went away when I got my A1c down below 7.0 and into the lower ranges. I'm back up to a 9.1A1c (or a 7.1 depending which doctor I ask??!!) right now with no signs of any problems down there. I'd never heard of YI as a sign of diabetes and I've got family all over with diabetes both T1 and T2. So I wouldn't think it weird not to have YI's. And believe me....you couldn't possibly have a yeast infection and NOT know it.....I used to think that until I finally got one and yah....no.....you'd know.

Yes you can but probiotics and yogurt yogurt yogurt :)

I totally agree with adding yogurt to your day!! It has helped so much w/chronic Uti's and Yi's I've had in past years...

I am type one diabetic for 18 yrs.... These yeast infections are annoying it's becoming a chronic thing for me,,,, I take mess for it but it seems to stay or come right back

I was getting yeast infections every month for months which is how I found out I'm diabetic as well. My A1C was 10 and I was very hyperglycemic but now that my blood sugar is under control and in normal range I haven't gotten a single yeast infection since. Work with your doctor to find what medication, diet & exercise is right for you in controlling your diabetes and hopefully they will go away like mine did!

Good idea about the yogurt. I was just diagnosed last week and I've got a killer one right now. Hopefully once I got my blood sugar under control (going to see the endocrinologist tomorrow), I won't have any more. It's driving me crazy!!!

Yes it does seem to go along with diabetes
 

Yes and on the skin around the area also! For me, a type 1 on the pump, it mostly happens after I have had an infection that required an antibiotic and for several months after. For the skin issue I use gold bond powder and it seems to calm things down somewhat but it is a real problem that just seems to go along with the illness.
I will say that the doctors never really tell us that this is going to be an issue we will have to proactively deal with - ugh.:mad:

Infection = high blood sugar
High blood sugar = infection
Treat infection with antibiotics = YI
YI= high blood sugar !!!!!!!!!
Cant win :p

It's amazing but keeping your a1c below 7 and yogurt yogurt yogurt both control YI for me.

Hey! I've been a type 1 for 18 years and I have an insulin pump. I am working really hard to get and keep my A1c down, but we can all agree it's not easy! I constantly struggle with yeast infections. Unfortunately, yeast eat sugar to survive so when there's enough to eat, they leave their home in your gut, and feast. The best solution I've found is a probiotic powder called ThreeLac. One sleeve of powder a day has kept my YI's away for a year! It's food for the yeast that keeps them contained in the gut. I swear by it!-Margo

Ditto
 

I've struggled with yeast at various numbers. Key is the bad carbs, nothing white. I found diflucan to work best and few days of cranberry vitamins. Started taking Align, probiotic, and this worked amazingly for all of my ailments. Yogurt not always best for diabetics.

I get YI's as soon as my blood sugars are up for a couple of days :mad: I try to get my sugars back down and it goes away within a few days. The best thing I was told was to clean with baby wipes after going for a pee. I don't know why it works but it seems to help!

Yeast infections ... was how I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes two months ago. I kept having yeast infections every month (during pms) and when I went to my ob-gyn they said that the reason was most likely because I had sugar in my urine & my glucose level was abnormal. I went to my PCD and he diagnosed me with type 1 and said that was the reason why I had recurring YIs. Its true though, because ever since I've been on insulin and counting my carbs, I haven't had a yeast infection in two months. However let me break yeast infection down & give some home remedies ;)
Yeast infections occur when taking antibiotics, wearing tight fitting non-breathable clothes, which keep in moisture and heat. Multiple sclerosis, diabetes, PMS, obesity, and pregnancy. Here are some things that you can do to help with YI and prevent it:
1.) yeast (candida / bad yeast)- thrives off of sugar. You want to starve those yeasts , so if you have severe YIs cut out the sugar & eliminate them!
2.) Eat PLAIN yogurt that has the active culture acidophilus... It helps the good bacteria and gives it a fighting chance against bad yeast. If your situation is severe ... Try dipping a tampon into the yogurt and insert it or wipe some yogurt on the outside. Do not leave it on/in too long or you'd have the opposite effect, since yeast loves moisture.
3.) GARLIC- yeast hates garlic . If you can't find ways to add garlic to your cooking or menu, get the tablets.
4.) apple cider vinegar :MOTHER. You can either use it internally or externally. Apple cider vinegar is really strong so please do not apply it directly to the skin. It will kill the bacteria but it will also burn you ( and from my experience ... It stung like heck!) try adding it to your bath water or put some in a spray bottle with the majority of the percentage being water. It is important that the vinegar have the mother, as this is more natural and less processed. Never use plain, white vinegar! This actually feeds the yeast instead of killing it.
5.) wear cotton panties.

Since this topic is on GB... the best and only cure that really was successful ... and has kept YIs away for me especially being a diabetic... is keep your sugar undercontrolled!

I've been type 2 for many years under good control until one day I get a raging yeast infect and vision goes haywire. My ac1 jumped several points. Once under control all neg symptoms disappeared and vision is okay. This was a lesson in control for me -- I have to be mindful of the power of this disease.

Yes yeast I know now this is where the problem extends from but no cream helps my blood sugar is 19,1 at the moment and hasn't come down I need help

I have never done the same thing

delete.

I agree with yogurt to your day;)

My a1c was 16%. Imagine those yeast infections :/

Acidophilus
 

For years I would suffer from yeast infections and no one ever associated them with diabetes. Every time I would require antibiotics for whatever reason, 3 days was about the extent of my treatment until the YI would check in. Also, I went through some long periods where the corners of my mouth would become sore and then crack and bleed. God help me if I had a dentist appointment during that time. Everything was blood sugar related. It was actually at a new dentist where they prescribed antibiotics-and I asked if I could get a script for diflucan with that-that someone finally listened. The tech excused herself and came back with a paper with Acidophilus written on it. She remembered another patient who had the same problem and called her to see what she took. Now whenever I require an antibiotic I take two acidophilus per one antibiotic. My mouth has remained crack/pain free and I don't suffer the YI's anymore. You can purchase acidophilus at the drugstore, health food, etc. I've used different ones with no preference at this point. My mother recently had some surgery and the doctor was explaining the system balancing issues and I mentioned my use of Acidophilus and he jumped right in and said EXACTLY! I knew it worked but it felt good to have a health professional acknowledge it. Still struggling with my BG levels but that was a big issue for me. If I even get a "thought" of an impending YI, I start my Acidophilus!

I get YIs about 3x a year. you "spill" sugar in your urine whenever your BG is at or above 160-180mg/dL - I don't know about you guys but this happens almost everyday for me, though it's relatively short lived. I typically get them the most after being sick. The virus/sickness/whatever jacks up my BGs and sure enough, a week after finally feeling better, I get hit with a YI.

Diflucan is like gold to me. I pop one of these pills (Rx only - my gyn calls it in for me) at the first sign of one, and I'm usually fine within a couple of days as long as I keep things very clean down there, wear cotton underwear, up the probiotics (for those who can't have dairy, anything fermented - sourkraut, kimchi, etc. - also has probiotics, and you can also take them in pill form), etc.

Also, just a note - if you require antibiotics for anything, up the probiotics prophylactically to protect you against the subsequent YI.

Hi. I have always been suseptable to yeast infections, could not take the pill etc. 12 years ago I just couldn't get rid of a infection after visiting the doctor and taking the medication. Went back to the Dr. and she decided to test my blood and I had a reading of 16!!!! Type 2 was diagnosed. Since I have brought my blood sugar into line I very rarely get a yeast infection.

Iv had this issue my whole life so yes u know where u r coming drum and it sucks. I eat a yogurt everyday. My new favorite is light and fit Dannon Greek. Only 80 calories and 8g sugar the other is yoplait Greek 100. Plus keeping your BS down us important of coarse. Good luck

Read every entry and glad to know that what I'm experiencing right now is within normal standards for women with diabetes. I was diagnosed 3 yrs ago with Type 2 and this is my first experience with YI ever! Never again do I want to experience this nor would I wish it on my worst enemy. I seriously can't function. Doing monistat3 and things have calmed down a bit down there. Can't wait for it to be over. The biggest help was starving the beast. I've been fasting. Drinking water only for the last 18hrs & sugar level has dropped from 290 to 173. Thanks ladies! I was going crazy until I found this site!

I'm type 1 and I use to have them all the time! I use the pill have to or it just won't go away! I had one for 3 months!! I finally went to a different doctor and learned something I didn't know! He told me that when I got home and started taking them to give 2 pills to my husband! I was confused by this and asked him why? He said that if we had intercourse before I knew I had the infection even though he didn't have symptoms he could be carrying the infection also and then when I was finally over it I was getting it back from him! So I did what he told me and it worked!! I didn't have one after that for almost a year!! Weird but it may be an option!

Hot diagnosed with type 3 on April since on drugs been done hwy sugar and drugs under conytol should help had multiple problems before diagnosis doing good since then