Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsRisk FactorsConnectionDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Risk Factors
Connection
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
A vaginalyeast infectionis a common condition that occurs from an overgrowth of yeast (a type of fungus) in the body. It causes symptoms like thick vaginal discharge, itchiness, and irritation.
While yeast normally lives in the body without causing issues, it can overgrow and lead to an infection when theimmune system is weakenedor when there’s a change in the vaginal environment. Because yeast feeds on sugar, people withdiabeteswho have elevated blood sugar levels may be prone to getting vaginal yeast infections.
This article discusses vaginal yeast infections in people with diabetes, and provides tips on treatment and prevention.
Verywell / Laura Porter
Signs and Symptoms of a Yeast Infection
Thesigns of a vaginal yeast infectionare pretty recognizable if you’ve had one before. For many people, signs include:
Prevalence of Yeast InfectionsVaginal yeast infections are common. In fact, up to 72% of people with a vagina will develop at least one in their lifetime.
Prevalence of Yeast Infections
Vaginal yeast infections are common. In fact, up to 72% of people with a vagina will develop at least one in their lifetime.
Causes and Risk Factors
There areseveral factorsthat can interfere with the balance of bacteria and yeast in the vagina, increasing your risk of developing a yeast infection.
One factor is having type 2 (and also type 1) diabetes, particularly if the condition is uncontrolled.Yeast feeds on sugar, so it’s likely to thrive and overgrow when blood sugar levels are high.
Other factors that can contribute to a vaginal yeast infection include:
RecapYeast can flourish and overgrow in warm, damp environments. Certain factors, like diabetes or a weakened immune system, can make this more likely, thanks to high blood sugar levels and a decreased ability to fight off infections in the body.
Recap
Yeast can flourish and overgrow in warm, damp environments. Certain factors, like diabetes or a weakened immune system, can make this more likely, thanks to high blood sugar levels and a decreased ability to fight off infections in the body.
Diabetes and Yeast Infections
Diabetes is a chronic condition affecting the body’s ability toprocess glucose (sugar), leading to dangerously high blood sugar levels. Researchers have found a link between these high blood sugar levels from diabetes and vaginal yeast infections.
People withtype 2 diabetesmay be even more susceptible to getting vaginal yeast infections, likely because they have more sugar in their system, disrupting the vagina’s balance of bacteria and yeast.
High Blood Sugar Levels
When blood sugar levels are high, the body starts to get rid of excess sugar through bodily fluids, including vaginal secretions. Yeast gets its energy from sugar, so this vaginal environment makes it easy for yeast to multiply, overgrow, and turn into a yeast infection.
High blood sugar also interferes withimmune system functions(the body’s defense system) that help fight off yeast infections. This means uncontrolled diabetes can make it more difficult to prevent and get rid of a vaginal yeast infection.
Diabetes Medications
Certaindiabetes medicationscan also contribute to an environment in which vaginal yeast infections can easily grow.
Examples of SGLT-2 inhibitor medications include:
Getting Rid of a Yeast Infection on Your Skin
While you may be able to detect a yeast infection when you begin experiencing the usual symptoms, it’s best to get an official diagnosis from a healthcare provider whenever possible. This will help ensure that you actually have a yeast infection, and that you receive treatment that works for you.
Todiagnose a vaginal yeast infection, a healthcare provider will perform a pelvic exam. This includes examining the affected area and taking a swab of vaginal discharge to check for the presence of yeast. If needed, the sample may be sent to a laboratory for an accurate evaluation.
Conditions With Similar Symptoms
There are a few options totreat a yeast infectionbased on symptoms and severity of the case. These include:
Different courses of treatment have slightly different timelines, but most medications are used for one to seven days. Your healthcare provider may recommend longer-term medications or routine oral medications if your symptoms are severe or if you get vaginal yeast infections often. This may be necessary for people with diabetes.
Untreated Yeast InfectionsWhile yeast infections are generally considered harmless, they can become severe ifleft untreated.Talk to a healthcare provider if you have diabetes and are experiencing recurrent yeast infections or a yeast infection that’s not clearing up after a week of using OTC treatments. They’ll be able to diagnose your infection and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Untreated Yeast Infections
While yeast infections are generally considered harmless, they can become severe ifleft untreated.Talk to a healthcare provider if you have diabetes and are experiencing recurrent yeast infections or a yeast infection that’s not clearing up after a week of using OTC treatments. They’ll be able to diagnose your infection and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Preventing Yeast Infections
Even though diabetes can place you at a higher risk of getting a yeast infection, there are some steps you can take to help protect yourself.
Other tips to help prevent a vaginal yeast infection include:
Summary
A vaginalyeast infectionis a common overgrowth of yeast in the body. Because yeast thrives off of sugar, high blood sugar levels in uncontrolled type 2 diabetes can make yeast infections more likely.
Symptoms include itching, burning, and a thick, white discharge from the vagina. Treatment may include a prescription oral antifungal medication or an OTC antifungal cream. Making sure blood sugar levels are under control can help people with diabetes prevent the frequency and severity of vaginal yeast infections.
A Word From Verywell
Frequently Asked QuestionsYes, itchy skin can be a common side effect of diabetes, and so can fungal infections. Keep skin clean and dry and check with a healthcare provider to rule out a vaginal yeast infection.Learn MoreThe Effects of Diabetes on SkinTreatment options for vaginal yeast infections are typically the same whether you have diabetes or not. But if you have diabetes and you get frequent or severe yeast infections, a healthcare provider may recommend long-term treatments or prescription medication to resolve the issue.This can depend on the severity of the infection and the treatment option used. Some mild yeast infections can clear up in a few days with OTC treatment, while others may require up to 14 days of stronger treatment.Learn MoreHow Long Does a Yeast Infection Last?
Yes, itchy skin can be a common side effect of diabetes, and so can fungal infections. Keep skin clean and dry and check with a healthcare provider to rule out a vaginal yeast infection.Learn MoreThe Effects of Diabetes on Skin
Yes, itchy skin can be a common side effect of diabetes, and so can fungal infections. Keep skin clean and dry and check with a healthcare provider to rule out a vaginal yeast infection.
Learn MoreThe Effects of Diabetes on Skin
Treatment options for vaginal yeast infections are typically the same whether you have diabetes or not. But if you have diabetes and you get frequent or severe yeast infections, a healthcare provider may recommend long-term treatments or prescription medication to resolve the issue.
This can depend on the severity of the infection and the treatment option used. Some mild yeast infections can clear up in a few days with OTC treatment, while others may require up to 14 days of stronger treatment.Learn MoreHow Long Does a Yeast Infection Last?
This can depend on the severity of the infection and the treatment option used. Some mild yeast infections can clear up in a few days with OTC treatment, while others may require up to 14 days of stronger treatment.
Learn MoreHow Long Does a Yeast Infection Last?
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes and women.Planned Parenthood.What is a yeast infection?Martin Lopez JE.Candidiasis (vulvovaginal).BMJ Clin Evid. 2015;16;2015:0815.Atabek ME, Akyürek N, Eklioglu BS.Frequency of vagınal candida colonization and relationship between metabolic parameters in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol.2013;26(5):257-260. doi:10.1016/j.jpag.2013.03.016Cleveland Clinic.Vaginal yeast infection.Atabek ME, Akyürek N, Eklioglu BS.Frequency of vagınal candida colonization and relationship between metabolic parameters in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2013;26(5):257-60. doi:10.1016/j.jpag.2013.03.016Gunther LS, Martins HP, Gimenes F, Abreu AL, Consolaro ME, Svidzinski TI.Prevalence of Candida albicans and non-albicans isolates from vaginal secretions: comparative evaluation of colonization, vaginal candidiasis and recurrent vaginal candidiasis in diabetic and non-diabetic women.Sao Paulo Med J. 2014;132(2):116-20. doi:10.1590/1516-3180.2014.1322640Mohammed L, Jha G, Malasevskaia I, Goud HK, Hassan AM.The interplay between sugar and yeast infections: Do diabetics have a greater predisposition to develop oral and vulvovaginal candidiasis?Cureus2021;13(2):e13407. doi:10.7759/cureus.13407American Diabetes Association.Oral & injectable medications for type 2 diabetes.MedlinePlus.Vaginal yeast infection.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vulvovaginal Candidiasis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage blood sugar.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing candidiasis.American Diabetes Association.Diabetes and Skin Complications.Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes and women.Planned Parenthood.What is a yeast infection?Martin Lopez JE.Candidiasis (vulvovaginal).BMJ Clin Evid. 2015;16;2015:0815.Atabek ME, Akyürek N, Eklioglu BS.Frequency of vagınal candida colonization and relationship between metabolic parameters in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol.2013;26(5):257-260. doi:10.1016/j.jpag.2013.03.016Cleveland Clinic.Vaginal yeast infection.Atabek ME, Akyürek N, Eklioglu BS.Frequency of vagınal candida colonization and relationship between metabolic parameters in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2013;26(5):257-60. doi:10.1016/j.jpag.2013.03.016Gunther LS, Martins HP, Gimenes F, Abreu AL, Consolaro ME, Svidzinski TI.Prevalence of Candida albicans and non-albicans isolates from vaginal secretions: comparative evaluation of colonization, vaginal candidiasis and recurrent vaginal candidiasis in diabetic and non-diabetic women.Sao Paulo Med J. 2014;132(2):116-20. doi:10.1590/1516-3180.2014.1322640Mohammed L, Jha G, Malasevskaia I, Goud HK, Hassan AM.The interplay between sugar and yeast infections: Do diabetics have a greater predisposition to develop oral and vulvovaginal candidiasis?Cureus2021;13(2):e13407. doi:10.7759/cureus.13407American Diabetes Association.Oral & injectable medications for type 2 diabetes.MedlinePlus.Vaginal yeast infection.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vulvovaginal Candidiasis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage blood sugar.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing candidiasis.American Diabetes Association.Diabetes and Skin Complications.Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes and women.Planned Parenthood.What is a yeast infection?Martin Lopez JE.Candidiasis (vulvovaginal).BMJ Clin Evid. 2015;16;2015:0815.Atabek ME, Akyürek N, Eklioglu BS.Frequency of vagınal candida colonization and relationship between metabolic parameters in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol.2013;26(5):257-260. doi:10.1016/j.jpag.2013.03.016Cleveland Clinic.Vaginal yeast infection.Atabek ME, Akyürek N, Eklioglu BS.Frequency of vagınal candida colonization and relationship between metabolic parameters in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2013;26(5):257-60. doi:10.1016/j.jpag.2013.03.016Gunther LS, Martins HP, Gimenes F, Abreu AL, Consolaro ME, Svidzinski TI.Prevalence of Candida albicans and non-albicans isolates from vaginal secretions: comparative evaluation of colonization, vaginal candidiasis and recurrent vaginal candidiasis in diabetic and non-diabetic women.Sao Paulo Med J. 2014;132(2):116-20. doi:10.1590/1516-3180.2014.1322640Mohammed L, Jha G, Malasevskaia I, Goud HK, Hassan AM.The interplay between sugar and yeast infections: Do diabetics have a greater predisposition to develop oral and vulvovaginal candidiasis?Cureus2021;13(2):e13407. doi:10.7759/cureus.13407American Diabetes Association.Oral & injectable medications for type 2 diabetes.MedlinePlus.Vaginal yeast infection.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vulvovaginal Candidiasis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage blood sugar.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing candidiasis.American Diabetes Association.Diabetes and Skin Complications.Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes and women.
Planned Parenthood.What is a yeast infection?
Martin Lopez JE.Candidiasis (vulvovaginal).BMJ Clin Evid. 2015;16;2015:0815.
Atabek ME, Akyürek N, Eklioglu BS.Frequency of vagınal candida colonization and relationship between metabolic parameters in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol.2013;26(5):257-260. doi:10.1016/j.jpag.2013.03.016
Cleveland Clinic.Vaginal yeast infection.
Atabek ME, Akyürek N, Eklioglu BS.Frequency of vagınal candida colonization and relationship between metabolic parameters in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2013;26(5):257-60. doi:10.1016/j.jpag.2013.03.016
Gunther LS, Martins HP, Gimenes F, Abreu AL, Consolaro ME, Svidzinski TI.Prevalence of Candida albicans and non-albicans isolates from vaginal secretions: comparative evaluation of colonization, vaginal candidiasis and recurrent vaginal candidiasis in diabetic and non-diabetic women.Sao Paulo Med J. 2014;132(2):116-20. doi:10.1590/1516-3180.2014.1322640
Mohammed L, Jha G, Malasevskaia I, Goud HK, Hassan AM.The interplay between sugar and yeast infections: Do diabetics have a greater predisposition to develop oral and vulvovaginal candidiasis?Cureus2021;13(2):e13407. doi:10.7759/cureus.13407
American Diabetes Association.Oral & injectable medications for type 2 diabetes.
MedlinePlus.Vaginal yeast infection.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vulvovaginal Candidiasis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage blood sugar.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing candidiasis.
American Diabetes Association.Diabetes and Skin Complications.
Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.
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