Urinary incontinence and diabetes: a review.

Both urinary incontinence and diabetes are chronic and costly conditions affecting millions of Americans. Unfortunately, these chronic conditions often coexist in the same person, compounding the economic and social costs and diminishing quality of life. The connection between urinary incontinence and diabetes has been mentioned in subsets of articles under prevalence or risk factors. The relationship is strong enough that researchers and clinicians should be aware of this link when formulating protocols or providing clinical care. This article summarizes knowledge of diabetes mellitus and urinary incontinence and explores the nature of their relationship.