Good Skin Care Essential if You Have DiabetesAs your body's largest organ, your skin is a master multitasker. It keeps fluids in, preventing dehydration. It regulates body temperature. It senses external stimuli, such as pain. It produces vitamin D from sunlight. And perhaps its most important task: It protects the body from infection. No doubt, keeping your skin healthy is important, especially if you have diabetes. ![]() Skin problems and diabetesPeople with diabetes are more likely to develop skin problems. In fact, one out of three people with the disease will eventually have a skin disorder. Why do skin problems touch more people with diabetes? When you have diabetes, your skin may not perform up to par. Diabetic nerve damage-a loss of feeling-can hinder your body's ability to secrete sweat. High blood sugar levels can also lower the amount of fluid in your body. The result: dry, cracked skin. Not only is it itchy, but skin in such a state allows germs to more easily invade the body. Infections on your feet are of particular concern. Nerve damage can limit how well you notice pain from blisters, corns, or calluses. So, too, can poor blood flow caused by diabetes. You may not realize you have a wound until it is infected. Infections in your feet can be slow to heal, and in worst cases, can lead to amputation. Besides infections, people with diabetes are more prone to certain skin disorders. These include yellowing nails, skin tags, thickening of the skin, and diabetic dermopathy-scaly patches of brown skin caused by small blood vessel changes. People with diabetes can also experience allergic skin reactions to medications, such as insulin. Skin-saving tipsKeeping your blood sugar levels under control can prevent many skin problems, including infections. Practicing good skin care helps, too. Below are some skin-saving tips:
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June 2013 |