Is Candida Related to Diabetes?

The fungus Candida Albicans naturally occurs in the body. When the environment within the body changes, as with elevated blood sugars in diabetes mellitus, the fungus becomes overgrown, resulting in what is commonly referred to as a yeast infection.

Features

• Diabetics are more likely to develop candida albicans infections in warm moist areas such as mouth, vagina and groin, folds of skin, around nails, and between fingers and toes.

Potential

• When diabetes is uncontrolled, there is more glucose (sugar) than normal in the body. This creates an ideal environment for fungus to grow.

Identification

• According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of a yeast infection are itching and a thick, white, cottage cheese-like discharge.

Considerations

• Normally medical treatment is not necessary since there is medicine available over the counter. In the presence of diabetes, more aggressive treatment is required from a physician.

Treatment

• In the presence of diabetes, prolonged anti-fungal treatment may be required to restore levels of candida albicans (source 3).

Fact

• 75 percent of American women will develop a yeast infection.