Why do diabetics feel dry mouth? How to relieve dry mouth in diabetics

Diabetes is caused by high blood sugar and has a high prevalence. Generally, diabetic patients will have symptoms of dry mouth and tongue, even if they keep drinking water. So what causes this? Is there any way to relieve it?

Why does diabetes cause dry mouth?

Dry mouth is a symptom that many diabetic patients have. Generally, the dry mouth symptom is more obvious in diabetic patients with polyuria. If the high blood sugar is not corrected, then we first correct the high blood sugar. It may also be caused by hypoglycemic drugs.

If hyperglycemia is ruled out and the patient still has dry mouth, then we need to consider whether the patient has some electrolyte disorders, such as hypokalemia, hypercalcemia, etc. Or we need to rule out some diseases that cause dry mouth, such as Sjögren's syndrome, which can cause reduced secretion of salivary glands.

Dry mouth can also occur if you are dehydrated or if you smoke. People with diabetes have high levels of sugar in their blood and saliva, which makes them more susceptible to oral yeast infections, which can also cause dry mouth.

If none of these are present and the patient's blood sugar is well corrected, then we can use some Chinese medicines that promote the production of body fluids, such as Ophiopogon japonicus, Lycium barbarum, Angelica sinensis, Astragalus membranaceus, etc. that we usually use; we can even use some drugs that stimulate the secretion of the salivary glands, such as Anethole.

How to relieve dry mouth in diabetics

First, due to polyuria and water loss, the patient is thirsty, and the amount and frequency of drinking water will increase, which is proportional to the blood sugar concentration, urine volume and sugar loss. Therefore, to control the symptoms of dry mouth, you must first control the blood sugar concentration. When the blood sugar control tends to be stable, the symptoms of dry mouth will be relieved or even disappear.

Second, if you have dry mouth, just drink water. Symptomatic treatment is also a way. At least drinking water can relieve the symptoms at that time. On the basis of controlling blood sugar, diabetic patients should also pay attention to oral hygiene. Diabetic patients have a sticky and uncomfortable mouth due to long-term high blood sugar. If they do not pay attention to oral hygiene, they are prone to dental diseases, which will also aggravate the symptoms of dry mouth.

Third, eat a light diet, eat more vegetables, diversify cooking methods, fry and deep-fry as little as possible, blanch, steam and boil more, use less oil and sugar, which can also relieve the symptoms of sticky and dry mouth.

Fourth, drink tea. You can choose chrysanthemum tea, green tea, black tea, corn silk tea, kudzu root and dendrobium tea. These teas can relieve greasiness, clear the liver and improve eyesight, and promote salivation and quench thirst.

Fifth, quit smoking. Cigarettes have always been labeled as "harmful to health", which shows that they are not good things. Diabetic patients should quit smoking. Smoking too much can cause oral problems and worsen the symptoms of dry throat, so quitting smoking is imperative.

How to diagnose diabetes

The currently commonly used diagnostic criteria for diabetes are as follows;

1. Fasting venous plasma glucose ≥7.0mmool/L (126mg/dl)

Fast for at least 8 hours. Avoid eating too much greasy food and drinking alcohol the day before. The normal fasting blood sugar level is 3.9-6.0mmol/L. When the blood sugar level is 6-7mmol/L, it is diagnosed as impaired fasting blood sugar, which is the early stage of diabetes.

2. Diabetes symptoms + random venous plasma glucose ≥ 11.1mmol/L (200mg/dl)

Symptoms of diabetes: polydipsia, polyphagia, polyuria and unexplained weight loss.

Random blood sugar: blood sugar concentration at any time after a meal, the blood sugar value is between 7.8~11.1mmol/L, which is the early intermediate state of diabetes.

3. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) 2-hour venous plasma glucose (2hPG) ≥ 11.1mmol/L (200mg/dl)

4. Glycated hemoglobin (HbAc1) ≥ 6.7mmol/L (120mg/dl)

Note: If no clear hyperglycemia is found, multiple measurements should be taken to confirm the diagnosis.