Type 2 Diabetes And Skin Health
What Is Type 2 Diabetes? Skin problems are often the first visible signs of diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Type 2 diabetes can make existing skin problems worse, and also cause new ones. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic condition that affects how your body absorbs glucose (sugar). This happens when the body either rejects insulin or doesn’t produce enough insulin to maintain a normal blood sugar level. While it’s most common in adults, some children and adolescents can be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. According to the Mayo Clinic, risk factors include being overweight, having a family history of diabetes, and inactivity. While there is no cure, patients can manage their type 2 diabetes by eating well, exercising, and (in some cases) taking medications recommended by your doctor. Monitoring your blood sugar is also important. Sometimes even maintaining a healthy weight isn’t enough to manage this condition. In some cases, your doctor will determine that medication intervention is needed. Common treatments for type 2 diabetes include: insulin therapy (insulin “shots,” usually reserved for those who don’t do well with oral medications) sulfonylureas (medications that stimulate your pancreas to secrete more insulin) metformin (widely prescribed drug which increases the body’s sensitivity to insulin) DPP-4 inhibitors (medications which reduce blood sugar levels) Causes of Diabetes-Related Skin Problems Long-term type 2 diabetes with hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) tends to reduce blood flow to the skin. It can also cause damage to blood vessels and nerves. Decreased blood circulation can lead to changes in the skin’s collagen. This changes the skin’s texture, appearance, and ability to heal. Damage to the skin cells can Continue reading >>
Diabetes And Your Skin
Protecting Your Outermost Layer The phrase “feeling comfortable in your own skin” is usually used figuratively to describe a level of self-confidence or self-acceptance. But when your skin itches, hurts, flakes, breaks out, changes color, or just doesn’t look or feel the way you’d like it to, the phrase can take on a new, very literal meaning. Diabetes can affect the skin in a number of ways that can make a person feel less than comfortable. In fact, as many as a third of people with diabetes will have a skin condition at some point in their lifetime. While some conditions may appear uniquely in people with diabetes, others are simply more common in people with diabetes. The good news is that a fair number of these conditions are treatable or can be prevented by maintaining blood glucose control and taking good daily care of your skin. Dry, itchy skin Dry skin can occur as a result of high blood glucose. When the blood glucose level is high, the body attempts to remove excess glucose from the blood by increasing urination. This loss of fluid from the body causes the skin to become dry. Dry skin can also be caused by neuropathy (damage to the nerves) by affecting the nerves that control the sweat glands. In these cases, neuropathy causes a decrease or absence of sweating that may lead to dry, cracked skin. Cold, dry air and bathing in hot water can aggravate dry skin. Dryness commonly leads to other skin problems such as itching (and often scratching), cracking, and peeling. Any small breaks in the skin leave it more exposed to injury and infection. It is therefore important to keep skin well moisturized. The best way to moisturize is to apply lotion or cream right after showering and patting the skin dry. This will seal in droplets of water that are present on t Continue reading >>
Diabetes And Your Skin
Want another reason to get your blood sugar levels under control and keep them that way? Doing so can help you avoid many diabetes skin problems. Still, skin conditions related to this disease are common. As many as 1 out of 3 people with diabetes will have one. Fortunately, most can be or successfully treated before they turn into a serious problem. The key is to catch them early. Common Skin Conditions Linked to Diabetes Itching skin, also called pruritus, can have many causes, such as dry skin, poor blood flow, or a yeast infection. When itching is caused by poor blood flow, you’ll likely feel it in your lower legs and feet. Lotion can help to keep your skin soft and moist, and prevent itching due to dry skin. Bacterial infections: Staphylococcus skin infections are more common and more serious in people with poorly controlled diabetes. When hair follicles are irritated, these bacteria can cause boils or an inflamed bump. Other infections include: Styes, which are infections of the eyelid glands Nail infections Most bacterial infections need to be treated with antibiotic pills. Talk with your doctor. Fungal infections: Warm, moist folds of the skin are the perfect breeding ground for these infections. Three common fungal infections are: Jock itch (red, itchy area on the genitals and the inside of the thighs) Athlete's foot (affects the skin between the toes) Ringworm (ring-shaped, scaly patches that can itch or blister and appear on the feet, groin, chest, stomach, scalp, or nails). A yeast-like fungus called "Candida albicans" causes many of the fungal infections that happen to people with diabetes. Women are likely to get this in their vaginas. People also tend to get this infection on the corners of their mouth. It feels like small cuts and is called "angular ch Continue reading >>
Diabetes And Acne: How To Treat? - Afdiabetics.com
Acne, which is brought on by blocked skin follicles that lead to pimples and swelling, is most typical in teenage years due to changing hormone levels. Nevertheless, lots of people with diabetes and other metabolic illness continue to experience mild, moderate and severe acne well beyond teenage years due to hormone imbalances. In addition, diabetes affects the skins capability to heal itself, meaning lesions that appear take longer to recover and typically repeat. A severe case of acne in a patient older than 40 need to activate a doctor to test for diabetes. Acne seems associated with both Type 1 (insulin-dependent) and Type 2 diabetes, and as much as one-third of diabetes patients suffer from acne or another skin problem. Some recently identified diabetics might find that their acne clears up by itself, but moderate and severe cases or cases not responsive to fundamental soap-and-warm water treatment might need some additional treatment. Young adults at DiabetesForums.com stressed hydrating the face, which may seem counterintuitive, and also recommended utilizing milder treatments to avoid irritating the skin. In some cases, a doctor may recommend antibiotics such as tetracycline or erythromycin in an effort to clear up the infection underlying the pimples. Diabetics likewise can think about natural treatments such as dietary modifications for acne, although they should consult their physician ahead of time. Many otherwise healthy acne victims have found relief by following a low-glycemic diet (a diet that doesnt spike blood glucose levels), and diabetics have been discovered to gain from such a diet as well. An analysis of medical studies carried out at the University of Sydney in Australia concluded that selecting low glycemic index foods has a little however medi Continue reading >>
Diabetes: 12 Warning Signs That Appear On Your Skin
Diabetes can affect many parts of your body, including your skin. When diabetes affects the skin, it’s often a sign that your blood sugar (glucose) levels are too high. This could mean that: You have undiagnosed diabetes, or pre-diabetes Your treatment for diabetes needs to be adjusted If you notice any of the following warning signs on your skin, it’s time to talk with your doctor. This skin condition often begins as small raised solid bumps that look like pimples. As it progresses, these bumps turn into patches of swollen and hard skin. The patches can be yellow, reddish, or brown. You may also notice: The surrounding skin has a shiny porcelain-like appearance You can see blood vessels The skin is itchy and painful The skin disease goes through cycles where it is active, inactive, and then active again The medical name for this condition is necrobiosis lipodica (neck-row-by-oh-sis lee-poi-dee-ka). TAKE ACTION Get tested for diabetes if you have not been diagnosed. Work with your doctor to better control your diabetes. See a dermatologist about your skin. Necorbiosis lipodica is harmless, but it can lead to complications. A dark patch (or band) of velvety skin on the back of your neck, armpit, groin, or elsewhere could mean that you have too much insulin in your blood. AN is often a sign of prediabetes. The medical name for this skin condition is acanthosis nigricans (ay-can-THOE-sis NIE-gri-cans). TAKE ACTION: Get tested for diabetes. 3. Hard, thickening skin When this develops on the fingers, toes, or both, the medical name for this condition is digital sclerosis (sclear-row-sis). On the hands, you’ll notice tight, waxy skin on the backs of your hands. The fingers can become stiff and difficult to move. If diabetes has been poorly controlled for years, it can f Continue reading >>
When It's More Than Acne
If you're breaking out long after your teen years are over, you may need to look beyond your skin for the source of the problem. Sometimes acne is a symptom of an underlying hormone condition that can cause far more than facial blemishes. PCOS is a hormone disorder that affects women. Although it's not fully understood, doctors believe that its caused by insensitivity to the hormone insulin . Besides irregular menstrual cycles and ovulation , weight gain, and thinning hair , one of the most notable symptoms of PCOS is acne . "Any female patient who presents to me with either persistent acne -- they had it in their teens and it's continued past the age of 25 -- or acne starting after age 25, I'll evaluate for PCOS," says Bethanee Schlosser, MD, director of the women's skin health program at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. PCOS-related acne tends to flare in areas that are usually considered "hormonally sensitive," especially the lower third of the face. This includes your cheeks, jawline, chin, and upper neck. "Patients with PCOS tend to get acne that involves more tender knots under the skin, rather than fine surface bumps, and will sometimes report that lesions in that area tend to flare before their menstrual period," Schlosser says. "They take time to go away." So if you tend to get acne in the places Schlosser describes and have noticed irregular periods , it's a good idea to ask your dermatologist to refer you for PCOS testing. Many women with PCOS also have diabetes , which isn't surprising, given that both conditions appear to be related to how the body reacts to insulin . Could that mean that diabetes causes acne, or that your acne might be a symptom of diabetes? If you look online, you may see a lot of speculation about diabetes causing Continue reading >>
Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Acne
Dear fellow diabetic girl, If you have acne, this is from me to you. Diabetics suffer a lot of health issues which don’t seem to be related to the diabetes, but secretly are. Acne is one of them. Over time, irregular blood sugars can help spur an overall hormone imbalance in the body. A slight change in our hormone levels can push us just over the tipping point and in front of the mirror going, “What?! Where did all of these zits come from?!” It happened to me. I was blessed with two parents who never ever had a zit. So as a teenager I inherited this and didn’t get but maybe 1 zit every couple of months. I felt fortunate. Then just before I turned 23 I lost my youngest brother. This, coupled with another great emotional ordeal which happened at the same time flipped my world inside out and in one month I suddenly became one of those unfortunate souls. People would look at me and go, “Wow, you’ve really broken out, what happened to you, you used to have such nice skin?” I was really disheartened by this because I was eating a little better than I had before and exercising more so I didn’t understand why I was being punished. I finally understood what It felt like to be plagued by zits. I didn’t want to go out in public for fear of what I might imagine everyone thinking, “Ewe, look at her, she must not take care of her self!” People probably weren’t thinking too much about my face but, it didn’t matter because I was. I would wake up each morning and quickly touch my face hoping it would be smooth and instead begin a new day grumpy as can be because my face was all red and bumpy and sore. This was the exact time I started dating my now husband and I hate that in all of our “dating era” pictures my face is splattered with acne. I even got to th Continue reading >>
Diabetic Skin Acne
Patients who have diabetes and acne often have difficulty getting their acne under control, and in some cases a bad case of acne can be one of the first visible signs of developing diabetes. Because the high blood sugar levels found in diabetes also have been implicated in acne formation, many clinicians are not surprised that the two could be related. Video of the Day Acne, which is caused by blocked skin follicles that lead to pimples and inflammation, is most common in adolescence due to changing hormonal levels. However, many people with diabetes and other metabolic diseases continue to suffer from mild, moderate and severe acne well beyond adolescence due to hormonal imbalances. In addition, diabetes affects the skin's ability to heal itself, meaning lesions that appear take longer to heal and often recur. A severe case of acne in a patient older than 40 should trigger a physician to test for diabetes. Acne appears to be associated with both Type 1 (insulin-dependent) and Type 2 diabetes, and up to one-third of diabetes patients suffer from acne or another skin condition. Some newly diagnosed diabetics may find that their acne clears up on its own, but moderate and severe cases--or cases not responsive to basic soap-and-warm water treatment--might require some extra treatment. Young adults at DiabetesForums.com emphasized moisturizing the face, which might seem counterintuitive, and also recommended using milder treatments to avoid irritating the skin. In some cases, a physician may prescribe antibiotics such as tetracycline or erythromycin in an attempt to clear up the infection underlying the pimples. Diabetics also can consider natural treatments such as dietary changes for acne, although they should consult their physician beforehand. Many otherwise healthy acn Continue reading >>
Diabetes And Acne
As it is World Diabetes Day, we wanted to have a closer look at the link between diabetes and acne. Research by the American Diabetes Association has found that around a third of people with diabetes will have a skin disorder caused or affected by diabetes at some time in their lives. In some occasions, the onset of adult acne is actually one of the first visible signs of developing diabetes. The connection between the two becomes clear when we look at how diabetes and acne develop in the body. Diabetes is a condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level (glucose) to become too high because the body cannot process it properly. In a healthy body, a hormone produced by the pancreas called insulin moves glucose out of the blood stream and into the body’s cells, where it is broken down into energy. However, if you suffer from diabetes, your body is not able to transform the glucose into energy, because either there isn’t enough insulin present (Type 1 diabetes) or because the insulin doesn’t function properly (Type 2 diabetes). Type 1 diabetes can be classed as an auto-immune disease. The body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin, causing for too much glucose to be left in the bloodstream. Type 2 diabetes – also known as insulin resistance – is the result of the body’s inability to produce enough insulin or when the body’s cells don’t react to insulin. In the UK, around 90% of all adults with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Can diabetes cause acne? Many people with diabetes suffer from acne well beyond their teenage years due to hormonal imbalances caused by their illness. In addition, diabetes affects the skin’s ability to heal itself, which means that blemishes take longer to heal. It is also known that having a diet Continue reading >>
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Correlation Between Diabetes And Acne
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. Is there a correlation between diabetes and acne? There is a history of diabetes on my mother's side of the family and last year, my blood test results indicated my glucose levels were a wee bit above the normal range. (this was from the glucose fasting test and not the A1c test) I didn't go for any further glucose tests to see if I'm at true risk for diabetes but nonetheless, I started making changes. Since then, I've cut out sugar and have been watching my carb intake as well as being more physically active. I had gained extra weight around my middle area (common with the women in my family) and this past year, I have lost a fair bit of that extra weight. I'll be getting another glucose test this year to see how they are. Not surprisingly, all of this was happening as I entered perimenopause so I'm sure it didn't help my hormonal acne. The spironolactone is really helping clear the acne but I'd also like to avoid getting diabetes for obvious reasons. The doctors I've spoken to won't say either way if there's a link between diabetics and acne. There is a woman at work who is diabetic (type 1) and she's almost 50 and reaching menopause, yet her skin is clear. Halle Berry is diabetic and she has fabulous skin. (she can afford the facials, etc.) Over the last 4 years, I've suspected that I've had a lot of things - including things like this. At one point I felt like I had the symptoms of diabetes, but now I'm not so sure. However, I do feel that there is a connection between sugar levels and acne. For example, if I eat a lot of sugary food in one sitting, within a few hours my skin will become really oily. This usually leads to inflammation, redness and a small breakout. Conversely, when I eat really good, my s Continue reading >>
Acne: 'diabetes Of The Skin' - Amanda Nutrition
Acne vulgaris is an inflammatory skin disease which is most often associated with the onset of puberty, 1 affecting around 85% of teenagers. 2 However, it has become increasingly common in the past 50 years, notably among adult women. 3 The precise mechanisms of acne development are still not fully understood, but it is characterised by overproduction of sebum (the oily secretion produced by sebaceous glands in the outer layer of skin); disruption of the cells which line hair follicles; and inflammation; in conjunction with hormonal and bacterial influences. 4,3,5 Recent studies have focused on the role that insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) plays in acne. IGF-1 is a hormone which promotes cell growth and is naturally higher during puberty. 6 Elevated levels of IGF-1 lead to increased sebum production and over-production of the cells which surround sebaceous follicles, 4 with subsequent clogging of pores. Bacteria such as Propionibacterium acnes, which is normally present in the skin, may become trapped in clogged pores, leading to infection and the redness and swelling of acne lesions.1 Consumption of cows milk results in a significant increase in blood levels of IGF-1, 7 while epidemiological studies show that acne is absent in populations consuming paleolithic diets, with low glycaemic load and no consumption of milk or dairy products. 6,8 Whey protein extracts are of particular concern, with various studies focusing purely on acne development in users of whey protein supplements. 9,18 Whey protein extract from cows milk contains 6 different growth factors, hence its use for increasing muscle mass, but which could also be the reason why whey protein supplementation is linked to the onset of acne. 18 epidemiological studies show that acne is absent in populations co Continue reading >>
The Relationship Of Diet And Acne
The Johnson & Johnson Skin Research Center; CPPW, a division of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc.; Skillman, NJ USA Received 2009 Jul 7; Accepted 2009 Sep 25. Key words: acne, diet, glycemic load/index, insulin, omega 3s This article has been cited by other articles in PMC. Nutrition and diet are affecting overall health; that statement needs no particular citation as every nutritional textbook advocates for this. But can diet affect acne? Acne is one of the most common dermatological conditions, affecting millions of young adult worldwide. 1 It is generally accepted that excess sebum, hormones, bacteria and hyper proliferation of follicular cells are the major etiologic factors for acne. 2 The current status of the relationship of diet and acne is not clear and under debate. On the one hand, the American Academy of Dermatology published recommendations 3 in 2007 suggesting that caloric restriction has no benefit in the treatment of acne and that there is insufficient evidence to link the consumption of certain food enemies to acne. 4 On the other hand, recent studies have suggested a rather close relationship between diet and acne. 5 , 6 But lets start from the very beginning and precisely from the founder of modern medicine, Hippocrates. One pillar of his teachings was Let food be your medicine and let medicine be your food. This statement was cited in another, very recent, review on the subject of diet and acne. 7 Since that review was published in 2004, many articles and commentaries have been published on the debate. 8 13 Before continuing with the review of the publications of the last five years, it is appropriate to quote the conclusions of that review, as in my opinion there is no better way to express agreement and appreciation: We did not realize ho Continue reading >>
Manage Your Blood Sugar To Prevent Acne
Suffering with acne? Join my crew of over 50,000 kick ass women on their journeys to gorgeous, naturally clear skin. To get started right away, grab my FREE report right now. We're into privacy. We would never spam you. How to Manage Your Blood Sugar to Prevent Acne Hey lovely, today Im going to be talking about how to manage your blood sugar to prevent acne. This was spurred by last weeks acne success story by Meagan , who said that she was not having the success she wanted just by changing her diet and that things got better when she started being vigilant about managing her blood sugar levels throughout the day. Now Ive always known that acne has a lot to do with blood sugar and insulin (amongst other things). when your blood sugar spikes up high, your body pumps out a lot of insulin to bring it down, and that triggers androgen hormones, which can trigger acne. When this happens all the time for a long time, your body starts getting less sensitive to insulin (called insulin resistance), which means you have to pump out even more insulin to bring the blood sugar down, and it kind of spirals out of control. Well, my usual recommendations are that you eat what are called low GI foods, meaning foods that dont spike your blood sugar too much when you eat them. Like vegetables, whole grains,natural sugars, meats and proteins, nuts, etc. However,Ive nevergiven much recommendation beyond that, because Ive personally never taken a specific approach beyond that (although I definitely have sung the virtues of making sure you eat enough food throughout the day and dont skip meals). But if yourecontinuing to have problems with your skin even thoughyoure eating only really healthy foods or eating really well most of the time and only having cheats (I hate that word) every so ofte Continue reading >>
Adult Acne And Diabetes | Diabetic Connect
I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes several months ago. Since then, my face has broken out like crazy. Has anyone else had this problem, be it Type 1 or Type 2? I didn't have this problem as a teenager and it is literally driving me crazy! Would love to know if this has happened to anyone else. I am on insulin, could that be the problem? Thank you Angie, I just posted an article I found on this topic. I think you'll find it very interesting. Thank you Diane! I appreciate you doing research for me! I have been out of town so I am looking forward to reading it! Your friend, Angie I have been diadetic type II since 1993. I have not had that problem. I have had a problem with dry skin. My skin is so dry it's driving me crazy. I never thought it was because of my diabetes, but it didn't use to be like this. I use extra dry lotion. Is there something else that can better help? There are a lot of great products out there for dry skin these days. You might ask your doctor for advice, or the local pharmacist. A big thing right now is something called a shielding lotion that rapidly absorbs into, and bonds with, the outer layer of skin creating a protective layer while retaining the natural moisture from within. This makes it the perfect dry skin care product. It does not wash off, but comes off naturally with exfoliated skin cells. It has to be reapplied every few hours, I think. Information can be found by doing a search or, again, asking the doctor or pharmacist. These shielding lotions provide the protection needed (supposedly- have not tried one) from all the harsh chemicals to which our skin is exposed. I was just reading somewhere that keeping the skin clean is as important as moisturizing. Using sunscreen ALL the time is important, as is staying healthy and hydrated. Ca Continue reading >>
Does Eating Sugar Really Cause Acne?
Can eating excess sugar cause acne? originally appeared on Quora: the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights. Sugar by itself does not cause acne per se. There are many reasons that acne can form and hormonal fluctuations in the body (hormonal acne) can be a significant factor for your breakouts. Acne has many possible culprits; therefore, it is imperative to see a qualified dermatologist to assess your acne as well as skin type and put you on a specific skin care regimen tailored just for you. However, I do believe that acne is best treated with a comprehensive approach. Along with in-office medical treatments, at home skin care medications and creams, a healthy diet and lifestyle also help to promote healthy skin. Here are some useful insights as to why sugar may be bad for your skin and further exacerbate your acne breakouts. Let's examine how sugar affects your skin. Sugar’s oxidative properties can provoke acne and breakouts. Sugar and foods high on the glycemic index (meaning foods that, once ingested, convert quickly into glucose and cause your body's insulin levels to elevate), lead to a burst of inflammation that goes throughout your entire body. Foods high in sugar and saturated fats - like white bread, candy, fried foods, ice cream, sodas, and anything else with a main ingredient of sugar - cause spikes in your body's insulin levels that further exacerbate inflammation. Steep insulin spikes increase the production of skin oils and contribute to the clogging of follicles, which can worsen skin complexion. Your body breaks down "simple carbohydrates”, like refined sugars and white flour, rapidly converting them into glucose, which then floods the blood stream. When this occurs, your body reacts by pr Continue reading >>
