Diabetes Skin Care Tips

Medical review by Anna Goldman, Maryland.

You already know that diabetes can probably affect you Almost all organs The whole body, including your eyes, kidneys and heart. Did you know that your skin is an organ too?

In diabetic life, it can withstand many skin types, including injections, finger protrusions, pump sites, and CGM sensors. Your skin is constantly working to heal, and it never takes a break.

Researcher It is estimated that 79% of people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes have skin problems. This ranges from daily skin damage (the lifespan of human Pinkin) to diagnostic conditions that require specialized care.

Diabetes-related skin concerns include:

• Lipohitorophy: This is the accumulation of hard adipose tissue at the injection or pump site. That’s the result of years of taking insulin.
• Scar tissue, bruises, irritation: Another consequence of years of insulin injection or pump and CGM sensor site management.
• Bacterial infections: These can develop anywhere, including the eyelids, nails and feet, and are more common in people with diabetes. Anti-agent biology!
• Fungal infections: Fungi such as yeast are supplied by excess glucose in the urine, sweat, and bloodstream. Common infectious diseases include yeast infections, jock itching, and athlete’s feet.
• Itchy skin: A reduced circulation can lead to very dry skin, which leaves you with extra itching.
• Nigricans for Acanthosis: This visible skin condition is a common sign Insulin resistance. It often contains darker skin spots on the neck, gro diameter and under the armpits.
• Diabetic blisters or ulcers: A simple cut or blister can become infected and threaten the happiness of the entire foot. Don’t ignore the wounds of slow healing!
• Digital sclerosis: This is the tightening and hardening of the skin of your fingers.

data It shows that even people with tightly controlled blood sugar levels can experience diabetes-related skin concerns, such as extra loose or dry skin. This means that everyone with diabetes should take skin health seriously.

Tip: Prevent and manage skin problems in diabetes

Below are a few things to consider when working to manage your skin health with all types of diabetes.

Address these hyperglycemia levels

This is step 1. If you’re struggling to get your blood sugar levels into your target range, it’s worth scheduling additional appointments with your healthcare team or diabetes coach to work on it as quickly as possible.

Stay persistent High blood sugar levels can:

• Damage blood vessels all over your body
• Increases overall inflammation
• Reduces healthy blood and oxygen circulation
• Slowly causes healing wounds, blisters and amputation infections
• Prevents healing due to reduced blood flow
• It leads to dehydration

There is Many ways to help you get your blood sugar back on track. It could be a combination of initiation/adjusting insulin doses, initiation/adjusting other medications such as GLP-1 and SGLT-2, and making simple changes to lifestyle habits. Swapping soda for flavored seltzer or walking every day after dinner can have a huge impact. The more you can reduce these numbers, the more you can boost your mood and energy. It’s worth it.

Establish a useful skin routine

Return to all these punctures and old CGM or pump sites. There are several steps to prevent infection, relieve inflamed skin, and promote healing.

• Alcohol swab: It’s easy to forget how many bacteria live in your skin. The area must be thoroughly cleaned with an alcohol swab before and after managing a new sensor or cannula. It’s worth painting a larger area than the site itself. The goal is to eliminate bacteria that may stimulate or develop infections around CGM or pump sites. This step is a must! Do not skip this.
• Healing lotion: Many lotion products contain ingredients that can irritate the skin or contain steroids, but some manufacturers create products specifically for people with diabetes. You can find lotions, gels and creams designed for daily use and wound care, providing both pain relief and protection against infection.
• Rotate the injection/CGM/Pump site: Don’t hit your skin more than you have to! Establish consistency Site Rotation Routine It prevents overuse of one area. We all tend to have preferred areas for injection or CGM, but we may need to use other areas to give the opportunity to heal your favorite spots. For example, some people use their arms in the morning for injections and then in the evening. You may use your abdomen for the pump site in April and the upper glut section in May. Mix it together!
• Avoid hot showers: Diabetes can make it difficult to keep the skin moisturized. Hot showers and low quality scented lotions and soaps are possible Irritate and dry the skin. Please lower the temperature a little!
• Sunscreen is a must: Sunburn It can raise your blood sugar! Moderate sunburn increases inflammation. This will cause the release of excess cortisol, which helps the body deal with its inflammation. Cortisol releases sugar stored in the liver and instructs it to spike blood sugar levels. Sunscreen or UV protection clothing is a must. Vitamin D deficiency plays a role in insulin resistance and risk of diabetes, but experts say it’s unlikely to get there well from the sun unless you live near the equator. Instead, consider it Daily Vitamin D Supplements.
• Check your feet every night: Simple blisters, cuts, or growing toenails can easily be infected, especially if you have chronically hyperglycemia levels. The infection can threaten the safety of your entire foot and legs. People with Neuropathy A decrease in blood flow means that simple amputations and blisters are not taking up oxygen or nutrients, making them particularly at risk of infection. Checking your cuts every night is an important part of diabetes management, especially if you have neuropathy. If you find slow healing areas, pus, or discolouration, consult your medical team immediately.

These are small steps, but they make a difference. Prioritizing daily skincare means protecting yourself from skin-related complications.

Get more water: It will help you heal your skin!

No, I don’t count coffee and diet soda! It’s time to take your water intake seriously! If you haven’t been drinking water (or seltzer) all day, your skin is begging you to start. Water plays a major role in the health of your skin.

(Did you know that dehydration actually increases the concentration of glucose in your bloodstream? Water is important for blood sugar levelsToo! )

your The whole body depends on having enough water It transports important nutrients, manages body temperature, lubricates important areas (eyes, nose, mouth, etc.) and also serves as a shock absorber.

However, drinking enough water also affects the skin’s ability to heal.

As a diabetic person, think about it multiple times a day or week when you have holes in your skin. You’re used to it, so you forget that your body wasn’t designed to sit in the injection site or CGM sensor for days.

Your whole body skin It depends on your water intake To help it take care of yourself! If it’s not enough, it’s inevitable that it makes it difficult for your skin to heal. drink!