Why am I so thirsty all the time?
Persistent thirst with frequent urination is the classic pairing of high blood sugar: the kidneys flush excess glucose and drag water with it. A simple glucose test rules this in or out quickly.
Other causes include dry environments, salty diets, some medicines, mouth breathing at night, and rarely hormone conditions affecting water balance.
Thirst that wakes you, or comes with weight loss and tiredness, should be tested this week, not watched for a season.
Source: NHS, type 2 diabetes
See a doctor promptly if
- Excessive thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision or unexplained weight loss. These suggest diabetes and need testing, not tracking
- Sweating, shakiness, palpitations or confusion a few hours after eating that resolves with food, especially if repeated
- A fasting glucose of 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) or more, or an HbA1c of 6.5 percent (48 mmol/mol) or more on repeat testing
Try a blood sugar checkneeds a meter, free, nothing to installConstant thirst is one of the handful of symptoms that make a doctor check a blood sugar. It is a reason to test, not a diagnosis.
Answered by the AskDoc Medical Team · Medically reviewed under our Medical Director, MBBS · How we review
If you are buying a meter
Any major-brand glucose meter is accurate enough for home tracking. The real cost is the strips, so compare strip prices before choosing the meter.
Buying through this link supports the free library with a small commission. It never changes a pick.
Have your own result?
Send the report. A doctor explains every value in writing within 3 days.
People also ask
Health education, not medical advice.