Catheter-associated bladder pain: it's not always infection.

This article is a case study examining the diagnosis and management of bladder dysfunction and catheter-associated pain in an older woman with diabetes and a hypotonic bladder. The incidence of diabetes has reached epidemic proportions. Although people with diabetes frequently develop lower urinary tract symptoms and voiding difficulties, this is often an unrecognised problem. As the incidence of diabetes grows, the incidence of diabetes-related bladder dysfunction will also increase. It is important that community nurses are aware of how diabetes affects bladder function and how to enable people with diabetes to manage bladder dysfunction well.