Can Mold in the Toilet Indicate Diabetes?

Mold is a fungus that proliferates in moist settings. In nature, molds help decompose dead plant and animal material.

Indoors, molds are common too. They frequently appear in places with elevated humidity, such as kitchens and bathrooms. You’ve probably noticed a ring of mold in a toilet at some point.

There’s a notion that persistent mold in a toilet might point to diabetes. The idea is that urine from someone with diabetes can carry higher sugar levels that the mold could use as nourishment. Read on to learn more.

What the research shows

No direct scientific studies have established a connection between toilet mold and diabetes.

That said, persistent mold buildup in a toilet could potentially indicate that you or someone in your household has undetected or poorly controlled diabetes. Here’s the reasoning.

Glycosuria in diabetes

People with diabetes may excrete elevated amounts of sugar (glucose) in their urine, a condition known as glycosuria. Typically, urine glucose is considered excessive when levels in a urine sample are above 25 mg/dl.

Normally, the kidneys reclaim glucose and return it to the bloodstream. But when blood glucose is high, not all of it can be reabsorbed, so the excess is lost in the urine.

Sugar usually appears in urine when blood glucose reaches about 180 mg/dl or higher. For context, diabetes may be diagnosed when a fasting plasma glucose is 126 mg/dl or more, or a random plasma glucose is 200 mg/dl or more.

Glycosuria can also lead to more frequent urination, since the extra sugar draws water into the urine and causes the bladder to fill more rapidly.

Glycosuria and mold

So how might glycosuria relate to toilet mold? Let’s explain further.

Mold can live in areas regularly exposed to moisture, including toilet bowls. Many molds can utilize sugars like glucose as a nutrient source.

Because people with diabetes sometimes have glycosuria, mold in a toilet could potentially consume that sugar. Combined with increased urination common in diabetes, molds may encounter these sugars more often.

Together, these circumstances could create conditions favorable for mold growth. Therefore, those with undiagnosed or poorly controlled diabetes might notice toilet rings more frequently.

Keep in mind, however, that no studies have proven a link between toilet mold and diabetes. Toilet mold often forms due to environmental reasons unrelated to a person’s health.

What does a black ring mean?

Mold shows up in many colors, including green, white, and black.

The terms “black mold” and “toxic mold” are sometimes used interchangeably. While some molds produce toxins, color alone doesn’t determine how hazardous a mold is.

When people mention toxic mold, they often mean Stachybotrys atra, a dark green to black mold that can appear slimy or tar-like.

That particular mold is unlikely to be the one in your toilet because it usually grows on materials like wood, paper, and ceiling tiles.

Other indoor molds may also be dark green or black. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists common indoor molds such as:

• Aspergillus
• Cladosporium
• Penicillium

Can mold cause health issues?

Most molds are not dangerous to most people. However, high levels of mold can trigger health problems in some individuals. Possible symptoms include:

• nasal congestion
• red or itchy eyes
• sneezing
• wheezing
• skin irritation
• headaches

These symptoms can be worse for people with allergies or asthma. Those with weakened immune systems may be vulnerable to mold-related infections.

What does a pink ring mean?

A pink ring in a toilet is fairly common. What causes it?

While mold can cause pink discoloration, a pink ring is often due to the bacterium Serratia marcescens. These bacteria thrive in moist settings and produce pigments that are pink, orange, or red.

Another possibility is iron in the water from older pipes, which can discolor toilets; if so, multiple toilets in the house are typically affected.

Other reasons for toilet mold

Most toilet mold arises from the bathroom environment itself. Because toilet bowls remain damp, they provide an ideal setting for mold. Bathrooms also have sinks and showers that add moisture.

Molds feed on nutrients derived from plant and animal material. In a toilet bowl they can access such nutrients from urine and fecal matter.

Toilet rings often develop when water stands for a long time, which is why stains usually appear near the waterline. Stains can also occur where flushed water runs along the bowl’s sides.

Ways to reduce mold growth in your toilet include:

• cleaning the toilet regularly with a brush and bowl cleaner
• flushing toilets that are used infrequently at least daily
• running the bathroom fan when showering
• keeping the bathroom ventilated
• fixing leaks and wiping up spills promptly

Signs and symptoms of diabetes

If frequent toilet mold concerns you and you’re worried about diabetes, be aware of common signs and symptoms, which include:

• frequent urination
• increased thirst
• increased hunger
• fatigue
• blurred vision
• numbness or tingling (“pins and needles”) in hands or feet
• unplanned weight loss
• slow-healing wounds

Type 1 diabetes symptoms can appear rapidly, whereas type 2 symptoms often develop slowly and may go unnoticed until complications arise.

Most people who develop type 2 diabetes pass through a prediabetes phase, where blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis. Prediabetes usually has no obvious symptoms.

When to consult a professional

If you have symptoms of diabetes, see a healthcare provider.

Testing is also advisable if you have risk factors for diabetes, such as:

• Age: Being 45 or older raises diabetes risk.
• Family history: A family history of diabetes increases your likelihood.
• Low physical activity: Regular activity helps control weight and blood sugar.
• Race or ethnicity:Racism and disparities in care contribute to higher diabetes risk in some groups. Increased risk is seen in: African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asian Americans, and Native Americans.
• Certain health conditions: Conditions that raise diabetes risk include: overweight or obesity, high blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, heart disease, stroke, polycystic ovary syndrome, and a history of gestational diabetes.

Tests for diabetes

Several tests can detect prediabetes or diabetes, including:

• A1C: Reflects average blood glucose over the past three months.
• Fasting plasma glucose: Measures blood sugar at a single time after fasting.
• Random plasma glucose test: Measures blood sugar without prior fasting.
• Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT): Measures blood sugar before and after drinking a sugary solution to assess how your body handles glucose.

The bottom line

You may have heard that recurring toilet mold signals diabetes because mold might feed on excess sugar present in the urine of people with diabetes.

However, there’s no scientific proof linking toilet mold to diabetes. A toilet’s damp environment, poor ventilation, and infrequent cleaning or flushing are common reasons mold appears.

If you have symptoms of diabetes, consult a health professional to have your blood sugar checked. Also, if you carry diabetes risk factors, get regular screening.