This nocturnal symptom is worth paying attention to: high blood sugar levels may be behind it

When should you be suspicious?

Nighttime urination is called nocturia. If you find yourself having to get up two or more times during the night, especially if you haven't had it before, it's something to be concerned about. The same is true if it's happening more often, or if you're more tired the next day because of the many awakenings.

Blood sugar can also cause

Frequent bathroom visits are a possible symptom of high blood sugar. When there is too much glucose in the blood, the kidneys try to remove some of the excess through urine. This also causes more water to be lost from the body, which may cause you to need to go to the bathroom more often – not just at night, but also during the day. It is especially important to pay attention if this is accompanied by a noticeable increase in thirst. The two symptoms together may be a good reason to have your blood sugar checked.

It's not just high blood sugar levels that can be behind it

Fortunately, there may be a much more mundane reason why you've been waking up more often at night lately. What and how much you drink at night also matters: in addition to lots of fluids, alcohol and caffeinated drinks can also contribute to having to go out more often at night.

Certain medications, such as diuretics, can also cause this. If you suspect that a medication may be causing this, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor about it, but don't change your medication on your own.

Frequent awakenings can also be caused by a urinary tract problem. For example, with an overactive bladder, the urge to urinate may occur suddenly even when the bladder is not yet full, and in men, benign prostatic hyperplasia can also cause a similar complaint.

And there's a less obvious cause: sleep apnea. This sleep disorder causes breathing to stop for short periods of time during sleep, which can also affect nighttime urination. If you're waking up frequently and also have loud snoring or gasping for air, it's a possibility to consider.

When is it worth seeing a doctor?

There is no need to worry about a single bad night. However, if you regularly wake up two or more times, even though you previously slept through the night, or if you are already more tired during the day due to the many awakenings, it is worth investigating the cause. Do not delay consulting a doctor if the complaint appears suddenly or is accompanied by pain, unusually strong thirst, swelling of the legs or shortness of breath.

So, just because you've been having to go out more often at night lately doesn't mean you have a problem with your blood sugar. However, if this is a new phenomenon, recurs regularly, or you experience other symptoms along with it, it's best to find out what's behind it.