Diabetes and urine Leakage (incontinence)
Men and women (common in older women, but that doesn't mean it's a natural part of aging) of all ages have bladder control problems. It is a common belief that bladder control problems are something that happens when you get older; truth is that men/women of all ages may have urine leakage. In men it is less frequent but the problem is more common in women when they exercise, laugh hard, cough, or sneeze, during pregnancy or after child birth. Women at menopause often have bladder control problems; female athletes sometimes have the problem during strenuous activities. For some it may be a small bother for others a large problem. Many adult women have had urine leakage at one time or another and for some it's a daily problem. Our bladder is a balloon-shaped organ that stores and releases urine. Made of muscle it is situated in the pelvis and held in place by pelvic muscles. Urethra (a tubular passage) drains urine. Sphincters (ring-like muscles) help keep the urethra closed so urine doesn't leak from the bladder before we are ready to release it.
How our body controls the bladder: Pelvic floor muscles hold the bladder in place. Most bladder control problems are caused by weak pelvic muscles. These muscles may become stretched and weak during pregnancy and childbirth. Weak muscles let the bladder sag out of position, which may stretch the opening to the urethra. Sphincters keep the urethra closed. Bladder relaxes when it fills with urine and squeezes when it's time to urinate. Nerves carry signals from the bladder to let the brain know when the bladder is full and from the brain to tell the bladder when it's time to urinate. Damaged nerves may send signals to the bladder at the wrong time. As a result, a bladder spasm may push out urine without warning. Sometimes damaged nerves send no signals at all, and the brain can't tell when the bladder is full. Diseases (diabetes, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, and stroke) and trauma (pelvic or back surgery, herniated disc, and radiation) can damage the nerves. Hormones help keep the lining of the bladder and urethra healthy. If any one of these features is not working properly, then bladder control problems may arise. Some problems are result of weak muscles, while others are caused by damaged nerves. Sometimes cause may be a medicine that dulls the nerves. When pelvic and sphincter muscles are strong, they can handle the extra pressure from a cough, sneeze, exercise, or laugh. But when those muscles are weak, that sudden pressure can push urine out of the bladder. Urine leak after a strong, sudden urge to urinate may be caused by nerve damage from diabetes, a stroke, an infection, or another medical condition. Leaking can happen when medicines affect any of the muscles or nerves. You may take medicine to calm your nerves so that you can sleep or relax. This medicine may dull the nerves in the bladder and keep them from signalling the brain when the bladder is full. Without the message and urge, the bladder overflows. Drinking alcohol can also cause these nerves to fail. Water pills-diuretics-take fluid from swollen areas of your body and send it to the bladder. This rapid filling may cause the bladder to leak. Caffeine drinks such as coffee and cola also cause the bladder to fill quickly. Make sure your drinks are decaf. A urinary tract infection can irritate bladder nerves and cause the bladder to squeeze without warning. Being overweight can put pressure on the bladder and contribute to stress incontinence. Some people have trouble getting to the bathroom because they can't walk or have other mobility problems causing incontinence. Kegel exercises strengthen the pelvic muscles and don't require any equipment. You can do Kegel exercises while lying down, sitting at a desk, or standing up. Some changes in habits may be helpful: Timed voiding. By keeping track of the times you leak urine, you may notice certain times of day when you are most likely to have an accident. You can use that information to make planned trips to the bathroom ahead of time to avoid the accident. Once you have established a safe pattern, you can build your bladder control by stretching out the time between trips to the bathroom. By forcing your pelvic muscles to hold on longer, you make those muscles stronger. You may notice that certain foods and drinks cause you to urinate more often. You may find that avoiding caffeinated drinks like coffee, tea, or cola helps your bladder control. You can choose the decaf version of your favourite drink. Make sure you are not drinking too much fluid because that will cause you to make a large amount of urine. If you are bothered by night-time urination, drink most of your fluids during the day and limit your drinking after dinner. You should not, however, avoid drinking fluids for fear of having an accident. Some foods may irritate your bladder and cause urgency. Extra body weight puts extra pressure on your bladder. By losing weight, you may be able to relieve some of that pressure and regain your bladder control.
Medicines
ALUMINA
Urination, feeble stream (slow); frequent, menses, before and during ; involuntary cough, during ; stool, straining at, while; retarded, must wait for urine to start ; retarded, must press a long time before he can begin . Urination, unsatisfactory, feeling as if urine remained in urethra .
ANTIMONIUM CRUDUM
Urging, sudden, must hasten to urinate, or urine will escape. Urination, involuntary during cough.
APIS MELLIFICA
Urination, frequent, menses, before / during ; involuntary at night (incontinence in bed) ; cough, during; old people, in; unconscious, urethra insensible .
BRYONIA ALBA
Urination, involuntary at night (incontinence in bed) , cough during , exertion during , running while .
CAPSICUM
Retention of urine, exertion, after; urination, dribbling (by drops); involuntary at night, spasmodic enuresis ; involuntary, cough, during .
CAUSTICUM
Urination, involuntary, night, first sleep; when blowing the nose, coughing; during laughing, when sneezing . Pregnancy, during. Urination, retarded, must press a long time before he can begin .Retarded when standing, flows involuntarily while sitting .Urination, unconscious, urethra insensible . Weaknes of sphincter .