Do you know what color is urine when you have diabetes? Urine is a waste product that contains breakdown products from food, drinks, medicines, cosmetics, environmental contaminants and by-products from metabolism and bacteria.
Amazingly, urine contains more than 3,000 compounds — much more than what’s found in other body fluids, such as saliva or cerebrospinal fluid. The kidneys do a remarkable job of filtering and concentrating to help get these compounds out of the body (you can understand why keeping your kidneys healthy is so important). So, what is your urine telling you?
One of the most telltale signs that you have diabetes is a higher-than-normal level of glucose – a type of sugar – in your blood, Before you get to that point, there are warning signs that can prompt you to get the test to confirm.
You may have a dry mouth and itchy skin
Dry mouth, or xerostomia, occurs when a person’s salivary glands do not produce enough saliva to keep the mouth moist. Xerostomia can be a symptom of diabetes and also a side effect of the medication that treats diabetes.
People with diabetes have a higher risk of skin rashes like acanthosis nigricans. High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) is often to blame. A rash can also be a sign of prediabetes. Many diabetes rashes clear up after blood sugar is under control. Proper diabetes management and skincare can prevent skin problems that can lead to serious infections.
You feel more hungry and tired than usual
Hyperphagia, sometimes called polyphagia, refers to excessive feelings of hunger that are not relieved by eating. When you digest most foods, sugar is released, and that sugar ends up in your bloodstream as glucose.
Your body, particularly your brain and nervous system, needs a certain level of glucose to function — not too much, and not too little. If your blood glucose level isn’t right, your body will react by showing certain symptoms.
You may urinate more often and feel thirsty
Excessive thirst, or polydipsia, can be a symptom of diabetes. If someone is experiencing excessive thirst and frequent urination, they should see a doctor. High sugar levels within the urine are a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast near the genitalia.
Urinary tract infections (UTI) come with a burning sensation during urination and cloudy, dark, or off-smelling urine. Yeast infections come with itching, burning, and discharge. People with diabetes are twice as likely to suffer from these types of infections.
You may experience blurred vision
Blurry vision means it’s harder to make out fine details in what you’re seeing. Several causes can stem from diabetes, as it may be a sign your glucose level is not in the right range — either too high or too low.
Diabetes can lead to blurry vision in several ways. In some cases, it’s a minor problem that you can resolve by stabilizing your blood sugar or taking eye drops. Other times, it’s a sign of something more serious that’s worth discussing with your doctor.
If your urine is…
- Cloudy
Your urine may also smell sweet or fruity. Diabetes can also lead to kidney complications or increase the risk of infections of the urinary tract, both of which can also make your urine appear cloudy.
However, cloudy urine can be caused by several other conditions that aren’t related to diabetes. If you’re worried that cloudy urine is a sign of diabetes, look out for other symptoms, like urinating often and feeling extremely thirsty.
- Red or pink
Red or pink urine can be a sign of something serious…or not. Red urine may be due to the presence of blood, and that’s always somewhat concerning. Blood in the urine may be a sign of a UTI, enlarged prostate, a tumor, kidney or bladder stones, menstruation, or injury to the urinary tract. It can also occur if you take blood-thinning medicine or aspirin. Less alarming causes of red urine are beets, berries, and rhubarb.
- Orange
When your pee is the color of a citrus-flavored soft drink, it’s probably because of meds like high-dose vitamin B2, the UTI drug phenazopyridine, or the antibiotic isoniazid. Depending on the color, it could also be a sign that you’re dehydrated or that there’s a problem with your liver or bile duct. You should ask your doctor about it.
- Green or blue
These hues are probably due to dyes in your food or meds you’ve taken, like the anesthetic propofol or the allergy/asthma medicine promethazine. A few rare medical conditions can also turn pee green or blue, so let your doctor know if the color doesn’t go away after a short time.
- Bright yellow
The color of “typical” urine falls on the spectrum of light yellow to a deeper amber color. The urochrome pigment that’s naturally in your urine becomes more diluted as you drink water. Urochrome is produced by your body breaking down hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in your red blood cells. In most situations, the color of your urine will depend on how diluted this pigment is.