Nutritionist Esther Tambe, founder of Esther Tambe Nutrition Center (USA), said dehydration greatly affects blood sugar levels.
Dehydration occurs when a person does not drink enough water for the body to need. Therefore, drinking less water or not drinking enough water is not good for people with diabetes.
Here, experts explain the link between dehydration and high blood sugar levels.
Water plays a very important role in blood sugar levels.
Dehydration alters hormones that control blood sugar
Dehydration is a risk factor for hyperglycemia, especially in people with diabetes.
There are a few reasons: Dehydration makes your blood thicker and can alter hormones involved in blood sugar control, according to health news site Eating Well .
Esther Tambe notes that, in addition to insulin, another hormone that plays a role in regulating blood pressure and osmotic balance is vasopressin. The body's hydration status affects the secretion of this hormone. Research published in the medical journal Diabetes Care suggests that vasopressin also plays a role in regulating blood sugar levels.
Dehydration increases blood glucose levels
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), blood sugar is essentially a measure of the concentration of glucose in the blood.
Water makes up a large portion of blood. When you're dehydrated, your blood becomes thicker, which causes your blood sugar to rise, explains Tambe.
Dehydration can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Not drinking enough water, poorer glucose tolerance
A 2017 study in the journal Nutrition Research found that people with diabetes who didn't drink enough water for just three days had worse oral glucose tolerance test results than those who drank enough water, according to Eating Well .
Some studies also suggest that over time, dehydration may increase the risk of developing diabetes, although more research is needed to confirm this link.
Need to drink more water
According to the NIH, one symptom of hyperglycemia is frequent urination, which can lead to a vicious cycle of further dehydration in people with diabetes.
A 2018 study in the Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism found that people with type 1 diabetes felt thirsty even after drinking enough water during exercise. This is understandable because thirst is a sign of high blood sugar.
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