Candidiasis, or vaginal yeast infection, is experienced more often by women with type 2 diabetes then by those who don’t. This condition causes damage to your wellness through itching and irritation around the vagina, a thick white discharge that looks like cottage cheese, and burning when using the bathroom or having sex. Most women have yeast organisms as part of the tiny microorganisms that live on and inside their bodies, which causes no harm to your wellbeing as long as they are limited in number. Vaginal yeast infection occurs when there is overgrowth of these normal organisms.
According to Vincent Woo, MD, chair of the clinical and scientific section of the Canadian Diabetes Association, ‘No one knows exactly why yeast infections are more common [in women with type 2 diabetes] but there is a definite association with how well a person’s diabetes is controlled’. However, Daniel Einhorn, MD, vice president of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists adds ‘Elevated blood sugars appear in the mucus of the vagina and vulva, so they serve as an excellent culture medium for yeast’ as yeast gets its energy from sugar.
Diabetes can weaken your ability to fight off any infections, either bacterial or fungal, Dr. Einhorn explains. Therefore, once you have a yeast infection, it may not be terribly easy to get rid of. The way a yeast infection is treated is the same for people with, or without, diabetes, says Einhorn: ‘These infections are managed the [same] way as any other yeast infection. All the standard agents will work’. However, do not misdiagnose your yeast infection as these treatments will be ineffective and won’t allow the real problem to be treated properly.
There are over-the-counter antifungal vaginal creams and suppositories, which are used for one to seven days, depending on the product. Consult your doctor to determine which product is best for you. However, if your yeast infections are very frequent or don’t completely go away, ask your doctor whether you’ve been misdiagnoses, you should be treated for longer periods of time, or you might benefit from a fluconazole (Diflucan) prescription. This is an effective treatment for yeast infection, but do not use it if you’re pregnant.
Finally, prevent yeast infections in the future by wearing cotton underwear, avoiding wearing tight-fitting clothes and eating yogurt with live cultures of Lactobacillus acidophilus, as well as optimising your ‘glucose control so that the sugar in the secretions from the vulva and vagina doesn’t promote the buildup of glucose,’ says Einhorn.
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