Overactive
bladder is a condition where the urinary bladder is unable to perform its usual
function of storage of urine efficiently. Consequently, the patient suffers from symptoms
like increased urgency to pass urine and at an increased frequency. The patient
may have to get up frequently at night to void the bladder. He/ she may also
experience episodes of incontinence, which could interfere with his/her social
life. Patients with urinary incontinence are said to be suffering from
overactive bladder “wet” and patients without urinary incontinence are said to
be suffering from overactive bladder "dry."
Overactive
bladder becomes more common with increasing age. It often occurs due to
increased muscle activity of the bladder, which could be a consequence of
partial bladder obstruction, as in the case of prostate enlargement. The inner lining
of the bladder could also play a role in bladder overactivity through the
release of certain substances like prostaglandins, which stimulate the nerves
and result in urgency.
People with
diabetes are at a risk of developing overactive bladder. Diabetes affects nerves;
thus if nerves supplying to the bladder are affected, there could be an error
in signals going to the bladder, resulting in urgency and voiding at the wrong
time. This is one of the mechanisms suggested for the occurrence of overactive
bladder in diabetes.
A study was carried out to study the prevalence of
overactive bladder in patients with type 2 diabetes. The patients were
administered a questionnaire to find out if they suffered from symptoms of
overactive bladder.
Out of the total 1359 included in the study,
22.5% reported to be suffering from
overactive bladder; 11.7% of these with overactive bladder dry and 10.8% with
overactive bladder wet. Overactive bladder and overactive bladder wet were
2.4 and 4.2 times more common in patients with diabetes of more than 10 years
duration, and of age more than 50 years. Men and older aged individuals were
more likely to suffer from overactive bladder, whereas older individuals and
people with a broader waist were more likely to suffer from incontinence due to
the overactive bladder.
The above
study reiterates that overactive bladder is common in people suffering from
diabetes especially over a long duration; hence diabetics should be routinely screened for
the presence of overactive bladder to ensure early treatment and prevent
complications.
Reference:
1. Liu R et al. Prevalence of Overactive Bladder and
Associated Risk Factors in 1359 Patients With Type 2 Diabetes. Urology 2011; 78
(5): 1040-1045.
2. Yoshida M et al. The Forefront for Novel Therapeutic Agents Based on
the Pathophysiology of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction: Pathophysiology and
Pharmacotherapy of Overactive Bladder. J Pharmacol Sci 2010; 112: 128 – 134.
Source-Medindia