How Much Water Is Too Much?

[sweetchariot]

My other half made a comment the other day about me drinking too much water, so a couple of days ago I wrote down every drink that I had during the day. I have some pint glasses from the UK and measured that I drank 15 pints in that day, about 7 litres.

I hadn't drank alcohol for 4 days beforehand, so was not dehydrated, this was just an average day. I don't sweat hardly at all, I am not massively overweight (74 kilo and 5'10'') and just wondered if this was excessive, dangerous, a symptom of something else, or just normal. I am always thirsty and have a glass of water with me at all times.

Cheers.

[Mobi]

Have your blood sugars checked.

It is a very common symptom for very high blood sugars (Diabetes)

[FBN]

Have your blood sugars checked.

It is a very common symptom for very high blood sugars (Diabetes)

Urgently...

[Wrong Turn]

Have your blood sugars checked.

It is a very common symptom for very high blood sugars (Diabetes)

But part of the reason for drinking excess water because of diabetes is because of a strong "thirst," correct?

I drink an average of 5 liters per day. I sip it throughout the day. I usually drink about 4 big bottles of beer 3-4 nights per week. I don't sweat, and I've reduced my sodium intake.

Because I've been drinking this much water for a few months, it seems I get "thirsty" when I don't drink about 5 liters.

I hope it's just my body used to this amount of water consumption.

[Mobi]

It will take less than 30 seconds to check, and then you'll know for sure.

Just about any doctor or hospital can do it for you, or if you know soemone who is diabetic you can borrow their meter.

Anything above 140 (7.8 in UK measurement) and you are diabetic.

[Sheryl]

It could be just a habit but as the other posters have said, it is very important that you rule out diabetes!!!

[njpski]

You have told us how much you drink, but have you done the other fluids measure - how much you pass?

I think we all sweat except it is sometimes not noticeable, ie, no sweaty underarms or shirts sticking to backs.

If you are not thirsty or bloated, you could be ingesting the right amount for you!

[gunnyd]

On the subject of drinking too much water (Water Intoxication) here is a reference from the Journal of Clinical Pathology J Clin Pathol. 2003 October; 56(10): 803–804.

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlere...i?artid=1770067

United States Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health (NIH)

GunnyD

[CTM]

Have your blood sugars checked.

It is a very common symptom for very high blood sugars (Diabetes)

But part of the reason for drinking excess water because of diabetes is because of a strong "thirst," correct?

I drink an average of 5 liters per day. I sip it throughout the day. I usually drink about 4 big bottles of beer 3-4 nights per week. I don't sweat, and I've reduced my sodium intake.

Because I've been drinking this much water for a few months, it seems I get "thirsty" when I don't drink about 5 liters.

I hope it's just my body used to this amount of water consumption.

I take it by sodium you are really meaning table salt (sodium chloride -NaCl; about 40% sodium, and 60% chloride often plus iodine)? You don't want low sodium if water intake is high. 5 liters is not especially high in a hot climate like Thailand. You probably are sweating more than you think it is just not noticeable as evaporates immediately. Moderately high water intake is actually very healthy so don't get all worried, but getting a check can't hurt either. Most people drink far too little water.

[sweetchariot]

Apologies for not responding to this sooner, and thanks for all the advice. Can I get blood sugars checked at a clinic, or do I need to go and see a doctor?

Done some research after the initial responses, and generally they seemed to say that increased thirst/ urination is only a syptom of diabetes if coupled with other symptoms such as lethargy, sudden weight gain etc, none of which I suffer from. I will get the test done anyway.

[Mobi]

Apologies for not responding to this sooner, and thanks for all the advice. Can I get blood sugars checked at a clinic, or do I need to go and see a doctor?

Done some research after the initial responses, and generally they seemed to say that increased thirst/ urination is only a syptom of diabetes if coupled with other symptoms such as lethargy, sudden weight gain etc, none of which I suffer from. I will get the test done anyway.

As I said above, just about any doctor or clinic should have the meter to test it for you.

If you are in any doubt, go to PIH and ask for a Blood sugar test for diabetes. It will only take 30 seconds.

Or if you are on the Dark side. PM me and you can come round and I'll test you myself for free.

[Nordlys]

I had the same symptom. How long do you have that symptom? Do you also have polyuria (excessive urination) and have trouble sleeping because you have to wake up every two hours at night for bathroom? Do you also prefer drinking ice cold water or cold tea rather than hot and warm drinks, fruit juices or milk? If it's not diabetes it could be diabetes insipidus (unrelated to sugar diabetes). Either way (diabetes or DI) 7 liters a day is a huge water intake I'd go see an endocrinologist if I were you (DI can be diagnosed by water deprivation test, and if the word "water deprivation" scares you you're likely to have DI IMO).

I do get DDAVP (desmopressin - synthetic antidiuretic hormone) that I use to puff into my nose 3 times a day to control the symptom.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polydipsia

Edited March 19, 2008 by Nordlys