Treating Fungal Infections In People With Diabetes
A fungal infection is not something that will simply go away on its own. Youll likely find the itchiness and burning so unbearable, youll be desperate for treatment.
Here are three guidelines for managing a fungal infection:
Improve your blood sugar levels
Using medication to treat the area affected by fungus growth will only do so much if your blood sugars are still persistently high. You need to address your blood sugars. If they continue to be high, you will likely continue to face fungus issues.
Unless your high blood sugars were a temporary issue you had to endure , you should call your diabetes healthcare team immediately to adjust your medications and reduce your blood sugars as quickly as possible.
Get the right medication for the right type of fungus
You may need to consult a dermatologist or your local pharmacist to be sure youre using the right anti-fungal treatment option for the type of fungus youre dealing with.
Treatments for yeast infections are fairly obvious , but more severe yeast infections may require a visit to your gynecologist and a prescription-strength treatment option.
There are topical ointments, capsules to swallow, suppositories, lotions the list goes on and on so you need to make sure youre using the right treatment for the right type of fungal infection.
Improve your self-care skin habits
For instance, you could:
Diabetes Symptoms In Adults And Children
Diabetes is the term given to blood sugar levels that are too high for a sustained period of time.
The signs or symptoms of high blood sugar are typically the same for both children and adults.
Patients with type 1 diabetes usually develop symptoms over a sudden, short period of time. The condition is often diagnosed in an emergency setting.
Type 2 diabetes on the other hand progresses quite slowly. Symptoms tend to come on gradually, which is why they are often overlooked. Some dont experience any early symptoms at all.
The following early signs of diabetes are the most common:
Subtle Signs Of Diabetes You May Not Be Aware Of
5 Subtle Signs of Diabetes You May Not Be Aware Of
Could you have type 2 diabetes and not know it? Around 9% of Americans have type 2 diabetes, and almost 25% are unaware of it. The statistics for prediabetes raise red flags too. About 30% of Americans have prediabetes, and 84% dont know it. Plus, the number of people with both conditions is on the rise. The likely reason is higher rates of obesity.
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Can Foot Problems Associated With Diabetes Be Prevented
Proper foot care can help prevent these common foot problems and/or treat them before they cause serious complications. Here are some tips for good foot care:
Why Diabetes Can Cause Dry Itchy Skin
Medical Review By: Richard Levine, MD
If you have diabetes, you may know it can affect your heart, kidneys and nerves, particularly if the disease is poorly controlled. But did you know it can also cause dry, itchy skin?
An estimated 79% of people who have diabetes mellitus, the most common form, experience skin issues such as dryness, itching and infections. These can develop at any point during the course of the disease. In some cases, they may even be the first sign that a person has diabetes.
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Diabetes And Genital Itching
Genital itching and burning can indicate a female or male yeast infection.
Regular yeast infections are a sign of type 2 diabetes
In diabetes, blood glucose levels can go abnormally high, which can therefore provide ideal conditions for naturally present yeast to grow and also diminishes the bodys ability to fight infection.
Diabetes can also cause a higher glucose content in the urine another extremely suitable place for yeast to thrive.
When Should You Call A Doctor If You Have Diabetes And Foot Problems
Write down the patient’s symptoms and be prepared to talk about them on the phone with a doctor. Following is a list of common reasons to call a doctor if a person with diabetes has a diabetic foot or leg problem. For most of these problems, a doctor visit within about 72 hours is appropriate.
If time and the patient’s condition permits, write down the patient’s symptoms, a list of medications, allergies to medicines, and the doctor’s name and phone number prior to coming to the hospital’s emergency department. This information will greatly assist the emergency physician in the evaluation and treatment of the patient’s problem.
Following are some common reasons to seek immediate medical attention for diabetic foot and leg problems.
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Canyon Oaks Foot And Ankle Is Here To Help
If youve noticed a rash, sore, or lesion on one or both of your feet, please dont hesitate to contact us. At Canyon Oaks Foot and Ankle, Diabetes-related foot issues are our expertise. Our podiatric specialists have proudly been providing the very best foot and ankle care to the Central Valley area for over twenty years. to schedule an appointment today!
Disseminated Granuloma Annulare Causes Skin Itching
This skin problem causes raised, bumpy, or ring-shaped spots that are skin colored, red, or red-brown. Disseminated granuloma annulare most often occurs on the fingers and ears. Some people report mild itching. Typically, medical treatment is not needed because the rash usually disappears on its own without leaving scars. But ask your doctor if a topical steroid, like hydrocortisone, could improve your skin problems.
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Is Itching A Symptom Of Diabetes
- Certified Endocrinologist
Diabetes can affect every part of the body, including the skin. Itchy skin is a common symptom seen in people with diabetes.
A person might experience frequent itching, but the critical factor is the duration a person has had these complaints.
The symptoms vary and depend on the cause, which could be acute or chronic .
Lets look at some of the common chronic causes for this symptom:
- Itching can be a result of nerve fiber damage in the outer layers of skin, a condition called diabetic polyneuropathy or peripheral neuropathy.
- These are usual complications of diabetes that develop when glucose levels are elevated for a prolonged duration of time, which could be at multiple small time durations in a day .
- It leads to damage in nerve fibers surrounding the hands and, most often, at the bottom of the feet. Before this type of nerve damage starts, it can be associated with high inflammatory response levels, which can also contribute to the problem.
- Persistent itching among diabetic patients indicates the risk of nerve damage due to increased cytokine levels, which is common in people in the advanced stage of neuropathy.
- In peripheral neuropathy, patients may also experience a loss of sensation, usually in the feet or hands. A tingling sensation might accompany these symptoms.
- Itching is also common if the skin becomes dry due to the loss of sweating response in advanced stages of diabetes.
How Diabetes Affects Skin
Diabetes can have an impact on the health of skin in multiple ways. High blood glucose levels are behind most of the skin problems caused by diabetes. Too much sugar in the blood prompts the body to pull fluid from cells in order to produce enough urine to remove the sugar, which in turn makes skin dry .
Dry, red, and irritated skin also can result from damage to nerves , particularly nerves in the legs and feet. Damaged nerves may not get the message to perspire, and perspiration helps to keep skin moist and soft.
In turn, when skin is overly dry, it can crack, peel and become itchy. Scratching it can create small openings in the skin. These openings provide easy access for infectious organisms to get under the skin, where excess sugar in the blood provides a fertile breeding ground for them to proliferate.
Beyond dryness and infections are an array of other skin problems associated with diabetes.
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What Is A Diabetes Rash
Diabetes affects various parts of your body, including your skin. An estimated 1 in 3 people with diabetes will develop a skin rash or other skin problem at some point.
When you have diabetes, your chances of having dry, itchy skin are higher than someone who doesnt have the disease. Youre also more likely to get other diabetes-related skin conditions.
Are You Suffering From A Diabetes
Do you have diabetes? Diabetes is the fastest growing long-term disease, affecting millions of people across the globe. In the United States, more than 25 million people suffer with diabetes. About 75 percent of them have type 2 diabetes, linked to obesity or being overweight. Researchers believe that the diabetes epidemic will escalate, and predict that in 2050, one in three Americans will have diabetes.
About a third of people with diabetes will develop skin problems such as skin sores or a leg rash. In fact, according to the American Diabetes Association , some skin problems can be warning signs of diabetes in those who are undiagnosed. The good news is that most skin problems with diabetes can be prevented or treated easily if theyre caught early.
Keeping proper control of your blood sugar can prevent diabetes skin problems and many other diabetes symptoms from happening in the first place.
Many diabetes skin problems can happen to healthy people, but people with diabetes have a much higher risk. Diabetes skin problems include:
- Bacterial infections
- Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum
- Skin itching
Controlling your blood glucose is the first step in preventing and treating diabetes skin problems. When diabetes affects your skin, causing skin sores or diabetes rash, it is a sign your blood sugar levels are too high.
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Blurred Vision Is One Of The Early Signs Of Diabetes
Distorted or blurred vision, as well as commonly seeing eye floaters is a common symptom of diabetes.
Fortunately its largely a reversible problem once the high blood sugar levels are corrected.
Why does this happen?: Excess glucose in the blood pulls fluids out of your cells and tissue. This includes the lens of your eye, which can swell and alter its ability to focus.
Diabetes Has A Direct Effect On Your Personal Health And Hygiene Here Is How
Written by Debjani Arora | Published : November 20, 2017 5:16 PM IST
Itchy penis could be an uncomfortable thing to deal with. Imagine being in a social gathering and the little one down there vies for your attention badly making you scratch your pants! You might be caught doing it in the public or have to excuse yourself from the situation to take care of your business. Whatever the situation it is bound to make you feel awkward whenever you feel an itch down there. But what should make you worried is not the itching part but why you are facing this problem at all. If you have a healthy life and abide by safe sex practices ideally your penis should not have this problem. But remember, an itchy penis is not just about STD or genital hygiene it could indicate a health crisis too, something like diabetes.
Don t believe us? There are studies that say people with diabetes, especially those with poorly controlled glycemia or blood glucose, are prone to developing genital mycotic infections. Men mostly suffer from candida balanitis which is prevalent among uncircumcised men. Candida albicans is the yeast that leads to penile thrush and causes balanitis or swelling of the glans or head of the penis. This could also lead to itching if the infection is not controlled.
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Darker Area Of Skin That Feels Like Velvet
A dark patch of velvety skin on the back of your neck, armpit, groin, or elsewhere could mean that you have too much insulin in your blood. This is often a sign of prediabetes.The medical name for this skin condition is acanthosis nigricans.
Acanthosis Nigricans
Often causing darker skin in the creases of the neck, AN may be the first sign that someone has diabetes.
Take action
- Get tested for diabetes
How To Soothe Diabetic Itchy Feet
Diabetes can lead to itchy skin anywhere on the body but feet are particularly at risk.
One reason why feet are more susceptible to diabetes-related itch is because theyre affected by diabetic peripheral neuropathy. This condition is related to prolonged high glucose levels, so as with any diabetic complication, the best way of managing the itch and looking after your feet, is to control your blood-sugar levels. If youre not controlling your levels by yourself then talk to your doctor or diabetes nurse as soon as you can.
First check to see what might be causing the itchy: is it bacterial, fungal, dry skin or anything else? If youre worried or uncertain, ask a healthcare professional! Your feet are precious!
Tips for managing itchy diabetic feet:
- Make checking your feet part of your daily routine and notice any changes
- Keep them clean with an unscented wash
- Wash in warm – not hot – water
- Pat them thoroughly dry
- Use an antimicrobial oil to keep them fresh
- Use ointment on any cracks, blisters or cuts
- Make sure shoes and socks fit well and dont rub
- Avoid bath products with irritant ingredients like scent or synthetic preservatives
- Dont apply lotion between your toes, as this increases the likelihood of fungal infections
- Keep baths short and not too hot, and dont soak itchy feet!
- Use strategies to manage the itch: you dont want to scratch and cause damage to the skin!
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Modify Your Diet Before Calling Your Doctor
Bergamo says if youre having some of these subtle symptoms try a low-carb diet of protein and green leafy vegetables. Avoid sugary drinks and drink at least 2 liters of water for a few days to see if these symptoms get better.
Subtle symptoms could be just that youre eating too many carbs and your body cant handle it, Bergamo says. It doesnt necessarily mean you have diabetes, but its a wake-up call that maybe youre headed that way.
If you have any symptoms that are frightening such as sudden numbness, weakness or chest pains, call your doctor immediately.
Are you concerned about diabetes? Talk to your doctor about having your blood glucose levels tested. Need a doctor? Find one near you.
Early Signs Of Diabetes
Both types of diabetes have some of the same telltale warning signs.
- Hunger and fatigue. Your body converts the food you eat into glucose that your cells use for energy. But your cells need insulin to take in glucose. If your body doesn’t make enough or any insulin, or if your cells resist the insulin your body makes, the glucose can’t get into them and you have no energy. This can make you hungrier and more tired than usual.
- Peeing more often and being thirstier. The average person usually has to pee between four and seven times in 24 hours, but people with diabetes may go a lot more. Why? Normally, your body reabsorbs glucose as it passes through your kidneys. But when diabetes pushes your blood sugar up, your kidneys may not be able to bring it all back in. This causes the body to make more urine, and that takes fluids. The result: You’ll have to go more often. You might pee out more, too. Because you’re peeing so much, you can get very thirsty. When you drink more, you’ll also pee more.
- Dry mouth and itchy skin. Because your body is using fluids to make pee, there’s less moisture for other things. You could get dehydrated, and your mouth may feel dry. Dry skin can make you itchy.
- Blurred vision. Changing fluid levels in your body could make the lenses in your eyes swell up. They change shape and canââ¬â¢t focus.
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Unexpected And Unintentional Weight Loss
Rapid and unintentional weight loss is one of the more obvious signs of diabetes. This could be anywhere from 5-10 kg in a matter of weeks or months.
This symptom is much more typical of those with type 1 diabetes, where sugar metabolism can shutdown very quickly.
Why does this happen?: Without new energy coming into the cells, the body is tricked into thinking you are in starvation. In order to provide energy, the body responds by breaking down protein in the muscle, which leads to muscle deterioration and the unexpected weight loss.