Is Your Dry Skin Related to Diabetes?

Dry Skin Related To Diabetes?

According to Azura Vascular Care, "A foot ulcer is the initial event in more than 85% of major amputations that are performed on people with diabetes and that in the United States, every year about 73,000 amputations of the lower limb not related to trauma are performed on people with diabetes".
Many patients with diabetes develop extremely dry, cracking skin which makes it much more susceptible to infections.
According to some old reports, approximately 70% of surgical amputations done in Canada also are performed on diabetes patients who have developed infections through cracks or breaks in extremely dry and flaky skin.
Why is dry Skin and diabetes associated with poor skin health?
a. Diabetes is linked to thickening of the skin.
b. Diabetes leads to reduced blood circulation to the skin microangiopathy.
c. Increased frequency of urination reduces the moisture available for the skin.
d. Some researchers believe that the body may actually “rob” the skin of moisture to eliminate glucose from the tissue.
The first symptoms of compromised skin health are often dry, scaly skin that can appear anywhere on the body but is most common at the extremities including legs, feet, knees, elbows, and hands. This is a common condition among patients with diabetes and results in less supple skin that can crack easily.
Be aware of skin cracks and infection
Skin cracks open the door for bacteria, viruses, and fungi to enter our bodies, often leading to open sores and infections.
Reduced or delayed healing
Not only is the skin more susceptible to infection, but it is also generally it heals slower. So patients with diabetes face the compounding problems of being more prone to infection and being much slower to heal once the infection has occurred. Four factors contribute to the slower healing rate: reduced blood flow to the skin, higher blood glucose which supports bacterial growth, slower metabolic rate and thicker skin.

How healthy is your skin?

There are six warning signs that your skin’s ability to resist infection has weakened.
  1. Has your skin grown noticeably thicker?
  2. Has your skin become more yellow in color?
  3. Is your skin noticeably drier?
  4. Is your skin becoming scaly?
  5. Is your skin cracking?
  6. Do you notice that minor wounds take longer to heal?
If you answered yes to any of these questions you should make improved skin care an immediate priority.
If in doubt, speaking to your physician is always advised.

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