Diabetics and winter skin
Q: I am a diabetic and in winter my skin gets very dry. Need I be concerned if my skin cracks?
Q: I am a diabetic and in winter my skin gets very dry. Need I be concerned if my skin cracks?
A: Dry, cracked skin and winter go together, but diabetics are even more prone to dry, itchy skin than others. Up to a third of diabetics will have a skin disorder caused or affected by diabetes at some point. Such problems can be the first sign of a person's diabetes.
Because of poor blood circulation, diabetics find that all wounds - from minor scrapes to cuts from dry skin and burns - heal slowly and can easily become infected. Infections can affect blood sugar control and quickly cause complications. Also, due to nerve damage in hands and feet, a diabetic may not notice a cut or break in the skin until it is infected.
The signs of an infected cut include discolored skin (white, yellow, or bloody), discoloration on socks or clothes, or odor linked to cuts. Any major skin break should be evaluated by your doctor or wound care center as soon as possible. If you have fever, chills, sweats, nausea, or vomiting with open sores, go to the ER.
Here are ways to prevent problems:
Keep skin clean and dry.
Avoid hot baths and showers.
Moisturize your skin to prevent chapping, especially in cold weather.
Treat cuts right away.
During cold, dry months, keep your home more humid. Bathe less at this time, if possible.
Check your feet daily for sores and cuts.
For diabetes self-management education classes, call Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital's Diabetes Hotline at 610-237-4192.
Joseph D. Rondeau is program director of the Advanced Wound Care Center at Mercy Fitzgerald and Mercy Philadelphia hospitals.