How Diabetes Can Affect Bladder Control
Diabetes can change your bladder control. It can cause your bladder to be overactive. Or it may be underactive. This can happen in people of any gender. Needing to urinate (pee) more often is a key early sign that a person has diabetes.
What causes changes in bladder control?
Diabetes can harm the nerves and muscles that control the bladder. And if you smoke or are overweight, these things raise your risk for bladder problems.
Some medicines can make it hard to start peeing and keep it going. These include medicines to control blood pressure, antihistamines, and decongestants. One type of diabetes medicine lowers blood sugar by raising how much sugar is in the urine. These are called SGLT-2 inhibitors. They may cause you to pee more often. People taking these are also at higher risk for fungal infections in the genital area.
Overactive bladder
When you have an overactive bladder, you may:
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Need to pee more often (8 or more times a day).
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Need to get up more than 1 time a night to pee. This is called nocturia.
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Have a sudden, strong urge to pee.
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Leak urine after a sudden urge.
An overactive bladder can be treated. Types of treatment include:
Underactive bladder
When you have an underactive bladder, you may:
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Lose the urge to pee.
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Not being able to empty your bladder all the way.
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Only be able to pee in small amounts at a time. You may dribble or have a weak stream.
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Have a lot of urinary tract infections.
An underactive bladder can be treated. Types of treatment include:
Online Medical Reviewer:
Raymond Kent Turley BSN MSN RN
Online Medical Reviewer:
Robert Hurd MD
Date Last Reviewed:
9/1/2025
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