Alzheimer’s Disease, Diabetes and Incontinence: They're Intertwined

Did you know that people with Alzheimer's disease also tend to have type 2 diabetes? Studies completed in the last three years have shown this to be true. One of the recent studies was conducted by a neurologist and published by Georgetown University Medical Center. He didn’t start out looking for a connection between the two diseases but rather stumbled upon it while studying the impact of resveratrol consumption on people with Alzheimer’s disease. What complicates matters more for people with either one of the diseases is incontinence.

Publications like the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and International Journal of Urology have both previously published articles on the connection between the three health problems. In each instance, nerve damage is part of the equation. It disrupts the signals that normally go to the bladder and bowels, thereby leading to incontinence. In addition, type 2 diabetes inherently causes people to urinate often partially due to their unstable blood glucose levels.

We should also mention that medicine used to treat symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease can also increase urinary output. Examples include calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, tranquilizers, antipsychotics, diuretics and mild sedatives. As such, the number of incontinence episodes is likely to be higher for people who have both diseases as opposed to just one.

On a positive note, a number of incontinence products and anti-stripper apparel may help manage their incontinence. Some of the products, like diapers and disposable underwear, absorb waste, keeping it away from the skin. There are also topical products that may be used to cleanse and protect the skin too. The anti-stripper apparel, on the other hand, helps prevent confused individuals from removing their undergarments before or after an accident. To learn more about them and other items that may help manage incontinence in people with type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s, please contact us today.