Diabetes FAQ » Diabetes Q&A » I am a 50 year old woman, I am obese, and as a child I used to wet the bed, I haven’t done it since, but lately I have trouble controlling my urine, I get up several times during the day to go to the bathroom and I don’t make it in time, I wake up sometimes during the night to go to the bathroom but even more recently I found I have been wetting the bed, is it a bladder infection because I don’t have any pain or could it be something else?

I am a 50 year old woman, I am obese, and as a child I used to wet the bed, I haven’t done it since, but lately I have trouble controlling my urine, I get up several times during the day to go to the bathroom and I don’t make it in time, I wake up sometimes during the night to go to the bathroom but even more recently I found I have been wetting the bed, is it a bladder infection because I don’t have any pain or could it be something else?

Bedwetting in children is very common before the age of 6 and it can last up to and past the preteen years. Most of the time it is a situation, which usually corrects itself. It is however, not common for an adult to be experiencing bedwetting. The condition that occurs when children can control their bladders during the day but not in the night when they are sleeping is called primary nocturnal enuresis.

An overactive bladder can be due to a bladder infection, which is quite common in women as well. You may also have bladder abnormalities such as a small bladder, which cannot hold the amount of urine. You may have bladder muscle problems, or bladder nerve damage. It could also be due to drinking too much. For that if you are experiencing bedwetting only and not frequent urination during the day, you may simply need to limit the amount of liquid intake you’re consuming before bedtime. Try not to drink anything before bedtime and try not to drink too much for the two hours directly before bedtime.

Some medications will act as diuretics, and cause excessive urination. Also certain foods such as chocolate and beverages, which include caffeine as in coffee and teas or colas, can cause excessive urination.

However, you mentioned that you are obese. Have you been tested for diabetes mellitus? Often time bedwetting and or frequent urination can be one of the earliest signs of type 2 diabetes. Diabetics often feel thirsty and drink more often that the average person. As mentioned above this could be a reason for your bedwetting and or any excessive urination during the daytime as well.

Incontinence

Uncontrolled or involuntary urination is referred to as incontinence. Incontinence has several causes that could be due to urinary tract infections, and loss of bladder muscle tone. However, it can also be a symptom of type 2 diabetes due to high blood sugar levels. Elevated glucose levels will cause an increase in urine production, which will in turn overload the bladder. When this happens there will be spill over which is the involuntary release of urine. People will feel full and have an urgency to urinate. They may not make it to the washroom in time, and some or all of the urine will trickle out as the urine is released from the bladder before they reach the toilet. This situation is chronic and if left untreated, it posses an awkward situation for individuals at home, at work, or even in social situations.

Stress incontinence can happen when diabetics experience some kind of physical activity. It can happen during running, lifting objects, coughing, sneezing, and laughing. Some diabetic individuals are unable to detect when they have a full bladder and this too can be a reason for leakage. This condition is a result of impaired or faulty nerve sensation. It could be a reason for why you may be wetting the bed without noticing it and sleeping right through the problem.

Whatever the reason for you bedwetting you will need to see your doctor to determine the cause in order for him or her to prescribe the appropriate treatment. You may start with your regular doctor who will order a urine test and some blood tests. He may already suspect diabetes and order the blood tests for diabetes mellitus. He may have you consult with a diabetes specialist directly, and he may also have you consult with a bladder specialist to rule out all possible causes for your condition.

Whether or not you have type 2 diabetes people who are obese are at high risk for becoming diabetic. Diabetes mellitus is a common condition in the USA and approximately 24 million people suffer from it. Go to your doctor immediately do not postpone the visit. You need to get to the bottom of this problem and correct it as soon as possible.

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One Response to “I am a 50 year old woman, I am obese, and as a child I used to wet the bed, I haven’t done it since, but lately I have trouble controlling my urine, I get up several times during the day to go to the bathroom and I don’t make it in time, I wake up sometimes during the night to go to the bathroom but even more recently I found I have been wetting the bed, is it a bladder infection because I don’t have any pain or could it be something else?”

Comment from Tom. Anon.
Time April 9, 2010 at 9:50 pm

Hey there,
as a diabetic myself i have read lots of facts, you say you fell no pain and its “automatic” One of the reasons this could be is a) Your blood sugar is way too high causing you too be thirsty and then your kdneys leak or b) your monthly blood sugar is higher than it should be and then following the process of “a”. Hope This Helped !

(this was from a type 1 diabeties source)