If you have diabetes, you have a higher risk of heart, kidneys and nerves disease. However the organ system most of us don’t know it affects is your skin as well.
Diabetes can also cause dry, itchy skin.
79% of people who have diabetes mellitus, the most common form, experience skin issues such as dryness, itching and cracking that leads to infections.
For some people, this will be the first sign for diagnosing their diabetes.
Diabetes and itchy skin
Diabetes can cause the body to lose too much water through urination and sweating. This causes dry, itchy skin that leads to scratching.
Itching in the back, legs and feet are common and most people scratch it without even knowing until it bleeds or scabs.
For most people a reaction to their diabetes medication leads to dry itchy skin.
Certain medications for other problems like high blood pressure and high cholesterol, can make the skin dry and itch as well.
Diabetes and skin infections
More than half of people with diabetes will develop a skin infection at some point.
Dryness leading to scratching can create cracks that lead to skin infections. This type of infection is mostly known as cellulitis.
Fungus often take advantage of cracks in skin between toes and on bottom of feet to cause infections that are very dangerous in people with diabetes.
It is highly recommended if you have diabetes to treat your skin just like you take medication, moisturize, moisturize and oh moisturize again.
Remember your skin is the largest organ and needs your attention.
Use a cream that can keep the moisture in the skin and repair cracks like factor X.
Creams are preferred to moisturizers as creams keep moisture longer.