DIABETIC SKIN CARE

Diabetes can cause changes in the tiny blood vessels that supply your skin with nutrients, proper skin care is especially important in preventing bacterial and fungal infections, impaired nerve sensations, dry, itchy skin, and other skin disorders.

The following are the daily guidelines for your personal hygiene:

• After bathing, keep your skin dry, particularly in the skin folds in the armpits, the groin, and under the breasts. Use talcum powder to help yourself stay dry.
• While bathing, avoid excessively hot water and use a superfatted soap to lubricate your skin. Try to avoid harsh and highly perfumed soaps.
• Use a humidifier at home to moisten the air during the cold winter months. Use  a lubricating skin oil to moisturize your skin when the humidity is low.
• Take care of any injuries to hands or feet right away. People with impaired nerve sensations tend to  be more susceptible to infections, particularly in the legs and feet. Seek professional assistance for changes such as pressure injuries from shoes or changes in colour of your skin and proper management of open wounds, should they occur. Check your feet frequently , since you may not feel an injury to your feet as readily with diabetic nerve changes that create decreased sensation.
• Avoid excessive exposure to the sun, as these burns can be serious to a diabetic because of infection, dehydration, and altered diabetic control.