Since diabetes can affect every part of the body, it’s no surprise that you can develop a diabetic skin condition. Studies show that as many as fully one third of people with diabetes will have a diabetic skin condition some time in their lives. Coincidentally, sometimes it is this diabetic skin condition that is the first sign that a person has diabetes. The good news is, most of these conditions can be prevented or easily treated if caught early. Some of these skin conditions are those that anyone can have, but people with diabetes get more easily. Some of these conditions are: bacterial infections, fungal infections, and itching. Then there are the conditions that happen primarily to diabetics. These conditions include: diabetic dermopathy, necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum, diabetic blisters, and eruptive xanthomatosis.
Bacterial infections occur in people with diabetes and that is just one of the types that you might encounter. It is called styes. You’re probably already familiar with this problem. It is an infection of the glands on the eyelids. Another of the diabetic skin condition is boils, which are infections of the hair follicles. The there is carbuncles. This is a deep infection of the skin and the tissue underneath. It is possible that infections can also occur around the nails. These inflamed tissues are generally hot, swollen, red and painful. There are many different organisms that can cause infections. The most common of these is the Staphylococcus bacteria, also called staph. Of note is the fact that there at also diabetic repeat bacterial infections as well as diabetic vaginal infections. At one time bacterial infections were life threatening, especially for people with diabetes, but today, death is rare thanks to antibiotics and other generally better methods of controlling blood sugar. Unfortunately, even today, diabetics have more bacterial infections than those who are not diabetic. The good news is, doctors believe diabetics can reduce these infections. As always, if you have a bacterial infection or think you have one, see your doctor.
Other diabetic skin condition are called fungal infections. Now the culprit in these fungal infections in people with diabetics is candida albicans. If you don’t know, this is a yeast like fungus that creates itchy rashes of moist red areas that are surrounded by tiny blisters. YOU will generally find these areas in the warm moist folds of the skin, such as under the breasts, around the nails, the corners of the mouth, between fingers and toes or armpits and groin. Some of the more common names are jock itch, athlete’s foot, ringworm and vaginal infection that causes itching. As usual, see your doctor if you think you have an infection.
Here are some other diabetic skin condition that you should be aware of: Diabetic Dermopathy, Necrobiosis Lipoidica Diabeticorum, Atherosclerosis, Allergic Reactions, Diabetic Blisters (Bullosis Diabeticorum), Eruptive Xanthomatosis, Digital Sclerosis, Disseminated Granuloma Annulare and Acanthosis Nigricans. As you can see, there are no shortage of diabetic skin condition that you have to deal will.
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