As American Diabetes Month approaches, leading experts like Dr. Jacqueline Sutera, DPM, stress the importance of foot care, especially for those with diabetes. People with diabetes are at a greater risk of developing dry skin due to nerve damage.
In the United States 23.6 million people have diabetes. While the disease may present many challenges, most skin conditions associated with diabetes can be prevented, or if detected early, easily treated.
Diabetes may damage the nerves in the skin, which can impair the body's ability to sweat. Without this function, skin that is normally well hydrated becomes dry, and then cracks. When blood glucose is high, the body loses fluid. With less fluid, the skin can become dry and itch, causing one to scratch their skin and make the dry skin sore. If left untreated, cracked, dry skin can open the door to very serious complications such as bacterial and fungal infections.
"There are many preventive steps people with diabetes should take to reduce the likelihood of complications from dry skin on the feet," said Sutera. "Regular visits with a podiatrist, who can examine your feet, along with meticulous daily foot care, are vital to helping feet stay healthy."
One of every three people with diabetes will experience some type of skin disorder. You can help to maintain healthy skin with a few lifestyle adjustments: