Guest presenter at the August meeting of the Bairnsdale and District Diabetes Support Group was Margaret Wilson, Nurse Continence Specialist from Continence Health Australia (formerly the Continence Foundation of Australia), who are a not-for-profit organisation and the national peak body promoting bladder and bowel control health.
The general population affected by incontinence is 7.2 million people over 15 years, one in five men and two in five women.
The topic was bladder and bowel control and how this can affect people with diabetes covering areas such as – what is continence/incontinence; practical strategies to manage incontinence; where to seek help; support and service available through Continence Health Australia.
Incontinence is a loss of bladder or bowel control that leads to urine leaking from the bladder or bowel motions from the bowel.
People with diabetes commonly experience problems with controlling their bladder and bowel.
This can involve accidental leakage, incomplete emptying, passing urine frequently (frequency) or feeling the need to rush to the toilet (urgency).
Poor control of the bladder and bowel is an important health problem and can interfere with work, social activities or sexual and personal relationships.
Diabetes may affect bladder and bowel control by making more urine than usual so you go to the toilet more often.
There are four main ways that diabetes may cause problems with bladder and bowel control and these are: obesity which can strain the pelvic floor muscles; nerve damage and reduced immunity which causes the loss of sensation so that there may be little warning of needing to go and empty the bladder.
This may develop the risk of urinary tract infections, kidney damage or constipation; medications used to treat diabetes may cause loose bowel actions, and combined with weak pelvic floor muscles may cause bowel incontinence.
To prevent and manage incontinence you should eat a healthy diet- rich in dietary fibre; drink well – spreading them evenly throughout the day; take regular exercise – at least 30 minutes most days; tone up the pelvic floor muscles and practice good toilet habits – go when your bladder feels full or when you get the urge to open your bowels.
If you are experiencing incontinence, talk about it with someone you trust.
Speak to your doctor or diabetes specialist about the problems you are having.
They may be able to treat the problems once they have done tests and looked at the medicines you are on that may be affecting your bladder and bowel control, or contact the National Continence Helpline for free and confidential advice and information. They can also help find a continence health professional near you.
Peter Fielden thanked Margaret for her excellent and very informative talk and the many and varied answering the many questions asked. He then presented her with a small gift on behalf of the group.
