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A diabetes expert shares some advice.

Since my diabetes diagnosis, I get more urinary tract infections. Any tips?

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are more common among people with diabetes, and women, overall, are at a higher risk than men. Diabetes can impair normal immune response, and the effects of diabetes on nerves and vascular tissue may contribute to UTIs as well. Plus, when blood glucose levels are high, excess glucose is discharged in urine, providing a more favorable environment for the bacterial growth that causes UTIs. When you contract a UTI, it’s important to get treatment immediately to prevent a more complicated infection.

Prevention starts with drinking lots of water and urinating frequently (when you need to go, go). Work to manage blood glucose levels — levels higher than about 180 mg/dl (10 mmol/l) mean glucose is collecting in the urine. Avoid contamination by always washing or wiping from front to back, avoiding baths (especially with fragranced products), keeping the vaginal area dry, and cleansing the area and urinating after sexual intercourse.

Published on February 20, 2015.

— Advice by Lorena Drago, MS, RD, CDN, CDE. Lorena is a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator and consultant. She is the author of Beyond Rice and Beans: The Caribbean Guide to Eating Well with Diabetes.