Frequent Urination Due to Diabetes: Causes and the Doctor Who Can Treat It

Frequent urination is one of the most common symptoms experienced by people with diabetes. This condition occurs because diabetes affects the body’s ability to regulate blood glucose (sugar) levels. When blood sugar levels become uncontrolled, various symptoms may develop, including frequent urination, excessive thirst, fatigue, and vision changes.

Diabetes consists of two main types—type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes—both of which can lead to high blood sugar levels if not properly managed. One of the reasons people with diabetes urinate more frequently is that excess glucose in the bloodstream forces the kidneys to work harder to remove the excess sugar through urine. This process causes more water to be excreted along with the glucose, resulting in increased urine production and more frequent urination.

At Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri, frequent urination caused by diabetes can be treated by dr. Andika Afriansyah, Sp.U, Subsp. FFN (K), MARS, a urologist specializing in functional, female, and neuro-urology. He provides individualized treatment tailored to each patient’s condition and needs.

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What causes frequent urination in people with diabetes?

Diabetes can cause frequent urination because blood sugar levels become excessively high. This happens when the body cannot produce enough insulin or cannot use insulin effectively.

In type 1 diabetes, the body produces very little or no insulin at all. In type 2 diabetes, the body still produces insulin but cannot use it efficiently (insulin resistance). As a result, blood glucose levels continue to rise.

The process that leads to frequent urination in people with diabetes occurs as follows:

Blood sugar levels rise because glucose cannot enter the body’s cells to be used as energy.
The kidneys work harder to filter and reabsorb glucose from the bloodstream.
When blood sugar becomes too high, the kidneys can no longer reabsorb all of the glucose, allowing some of it to pass into the urine.
Glucose in the urine draws more water with it, increasing the volume of urine produced.
The person urinates more frequently, losing a significant amount of fluid and becoming prone to dehydration.
The body responds with excessive thirst to replace the lost fluids, causing the person to drink more, which further increases the frequency of urination.

In the early stages, increased urination may not be very noticeable. However, if you frequently wake up at night to urinate (nocturia), experience excessive thirst, or feel unusually tired, these may be signs that your blood sugar is elevated and should be evaluated by a doctor.

When can frequent urination be a sign of diabetes?

If frequent urination is accompanied by the following symptoms, diabetes may be the underlying cause:

Fatigue, because the body’s cells cannot obtain enough glucose to produce energy. Dehydration caused by frequent urination can make fatigue even worse.
Unexplained weight loss, because the body has difficulty using glucose as an energy source and begins breaking down fat and muscle instead.
Blurred vision, which may occur because high blood sugar levels affect the eye’s lens. Over time, diabetes can also damage the blood vessels in the retina.
Swollen gums or frequent gum infections, as diabetes increases the risk of infections, including those affecting the gums.
Tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, caused by nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy) resulting from persistently high blood sugar levels.

If you experience frequent urination, especially together with the symptoms above, you should consult a doctor promptly. Your doctor can determine whether your symptoms are caused by diabetes, prediabetes, or another medical condition.

Several tests may be performed to diagnose diabetes, including:

HbA1c test, which measures your average blood sugar level over the previous two to three months.
Fasting blood glucose test, performed after fasting for at least eight hours.
Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), which evaluates how your body processes glucose after consuming a glucose solution.
Random blood glucose test, which measures blood sugar levels at any time without requiring fasting.

Doctor who treats frequent urination caused by diabetes at Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri

Frequent urination caused by diabetes may be managed by different specialists depending on its underlying cause. If the symptom is related to bladder dysfunction or nerve damage caused by diabetes (diabetic neuropathy), one of the specialists involved in treatment is a urologist with subspecialty training in neuro-urology.

Neuro-urology is a subspecialty of urology that focuses on diagnosing and treating urinary tract disorders caused by diseases or abnormalities of the nervous system. This specialty plays an important role in managing urinary problems such as neurogenic bladder, helping patients regain better bladder function and improve their quality of life.

At Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri, patients experiencing frequent urination due to diabetes can consult dr. Andika Afriansyah, Sp.U, Subsp. FFN (K), MARS, a urologist specializing in functional, female, and neuro-urology. He has extensive experience treating urinary tract disorders, including urinary dysfunction caused by diabetic neuropathy.

dr. Andika completed his medical degree at Universitas Indonesia in 2008. He then pursued specialist training in Urology at the same university and completed the program in 2020.

To further advance his expertise, dr. Andika completed Consultant Training in Functional, Female, and Neuro-Urology through the Indonesian College of Urology in 2022. With this background, he is experienced in diagnosing and treating urinary tract dysfunction, female urological conditions, and urinary disorders associated with neurological diseases.

Areas of expertise of dr. Andika Afriansyah, Sp.U, Subsp. FFN (K), MARS

As a urologist specializing in functional, female, and neuro-urology, dr. Andika treats a wide range of conditions, including:

Urinary tract disorders in women, including recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Voiding dysfunction, such as difficulty urinating, weak urine flow, or incomplete bladder emptying.
Urinary incontinence (loss of bladder control) in adults and older adults.
Bladder dysfunction caused by neurological disorders (neuro-urology), including conditions related to diabetes or stroke.
Various urinary tract disorders requiring evaluation and treatment by a urologist specializing in functional, female, and neuro-urology.

Practice schedule of dr. Andika at Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri

dr. Andika Afriansyah, Sp.U, Subsp. FFN (K), MARS is available for consultation at Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri on the following schedule:

Tuesday: 4:00 PM–8:00 PM
Thursday: 4:00 PM–8:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM

To make your visit to Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri more convenient, you can use the Chat via WhatsApp, Book Appointment, or Care Dokter app, which is available for download on Google Play and the App Store. These services can help you plan your visit, check queue numbers, and access other useful information.

The information provided on this page is intended for educational and general informational purposes only and does not represent the full scope of medical services that may be provided by each physician. To receive treatment tailored to your condition, we recommend consulting the appropriate doctor directly.

If you have any questions, suggestions, or require further information, please contact our call center at +62 811-1900-2000.