Use this forum for all discussion about diabetes complications, how you prevent complications, what complications you have experienced and how they have affected you.
Does anyone know if itchy scaling skin is a diabetes related problem? Its happening on my scalp and around my ears - I've had it now for several months-
Hi, it looks like psoriasis to me, and I think it's best to go to the doctor to check. I got psoriasis and I was told that they don't know if it's diabetes-related (could be tons of reasons) but for sure diabetes doesn't make it any better unfortunately , more difficult to heal.
Thanks for your reply chequers. I made it to the doctors and they diagnosed it as sebohrroeic (sp?) dermatitus and prescribed a shampoo and a steroid cream - basically its similar to when babies have cradle cap.
apple123 wrote:Thanks for your reply chequers. I made it to the doctors and they diagnosed it as sebohrroeic (sp?) dermatitus and prescribed a shampoo and a steroid cream - basically its similar to when babies have cradle cap.
Hi apple,
I have those red rashes all over my body. I was told that it is the excess of sugar which causes them. Sometimes, they break open and soon become a sore. I have had several sores and once they heal they leave a dark patch of skin. I am very pale anyway and it does look very strange to have these dark patches on my skin. Yes they do itch, but the strange thing is the red patches turn up randomly!!
apple123 wrote:Does anyone know if itchy scaling skin is a diabetes related problem? Its happening on my scalp and around my ears - I've had it now for several months-
I don't think its related to diabetes, but I'm no expert. I had what you described a few years back and my doc gave me summat called Polytar Shampoo. I use that every day for a full week and now its once a week with normal shampoo for the other 6 days and it left me never to return. That Polytar is now on my repeat prescription list.
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
There are lots of skin conditions that it could be. I have psoriasis and vitiligo and my GP surgery were pretty awful at diagnosing them. It wasn't until I was referred to the dermatology department at my local hospital that the specialist saw me and gave me a conclusive diagnosis.... and also said GPs can be very bad at getting it right about skin conditions. My GP was insisting I had a fungal infection when it was actually an auto-immune condition.
There is a link between diabetes and skin conditions, especially ones that are auto-immune like psoriasis, which is also characterised by itchy scaly skin patches. And like someone else said, blood sugar levels running high can also make them worse.
The nature/look of the skin is all important when diagnosing so I hesitate to offer any opinion different from your doctor, but if it doesn't improve I would definitely ask to be referred to a dermtology specialist who can probably offer you different treatment options.
T1 since 1993 basal-bolus regime of lantus & humalog metformin 1000mg M/R victoza 1.2mg
picklebean wrote:There are lots of skin conditions that it could be. I have psoriasis and vitiligo and my GP surgery were pretty awful at diagnosing them. It wasn't until I was referred to the dermatology department at my local hospital that the specialist saw me and gave me a conclusive diagnosis.... and also said GPs can be very bad at getting it right about skin conditions. My GP was insisting I had a fungal infection when it was actually an auto-immune condition.
There is a link between diabetes and skin conditions, especially ones that are auto-immune like psoriasis, which is also characterised by itchy scaly skin patches. And like someone else said, blood sugar levels running high can also make them worse.
The nature/look of the skin is all important when diagnosing so I hesitate to offer any opinion different from your doctor, but if it doesn't improve I would definitely ask to be referred to a dermtology specialist who can probably offer you different treatment options.
Excellent post Picklebean. I would add that in my experience, GPs are not good at diagnosing a lot of things, including skin conditions. They seem to do fine if it's a minor illness or if a specialist has made a diagnosis, then they know how to treat that (most of the time). Give them something complex and some of them just don't know where to start.
Also in my experience - a lot of skin issues (or mucus membrane issues eg nose, mouth, genitals etc) are contributed to by dehydration. Yes diabetes can cause dehydration, and so can a lot of medications. Your skin and other membranes need to be kept 'just right' - not too dry, not too moist. Sounds like you've got a diagnosis to work with for now - hope it improves and please let us know how you get on.
Type 2 Diabetes, on Metformin 2/day. HbA1c 6.3% August 2012; 6.1% May 2012; 6.3% Feb 2012. BMI 40 (was 45, aiming for 27). Also on a proton pump inhibitor, an analgesic, an anti-hypertensive and 2 anti-depressants.
CatLadyNZ wrote:Excellent post Picklebean. I would add that in my experience, GPs are not good at diagnosing a lot of things, including skin conditions. They seem to do fine if it's a minor illness or if a specialist has made a diagnosis, then they know how to treat that (most of the time). Give them something complex and some of them just don't know where to start.
hehe, thank you... that really made me smile!
I have a whole host of medical conditions and on the whole, my GP has been bloomin' awful at diagnosing/treating them. If at all possible I would recommend asking to see a specialist. Having diabetes and any other condition on top can lead to all sorts of issues/complications, so the very fact that you are diabetic is reason enough to get to see a specilist in a lot of cases... just my opinion, but at least that way you get the best treatment from someone who has detailed knowledge of the area!
T1 since 1993 basal-bolus regime of lantus & humalog metformin 1000mg M/R victoza 1.2mg
CatLadyNZ wrote:Excellent post Picklebean. I would add that in my experience, GPs are not good at diagnosing a lot of things, including skin conditions. They seem to do fine if it's a minor illness or if a specialist has made a diagnosis, then they know how to treat that (most of the time). Give them something complex and some of them just don't know where to start.
hehe, thank you... that really made me smile!
I have a whole host of medical conditions and on the whole, my GP has been bloomin' awful at diagnosing/treating them. If at all possible I would recommend asking to see a specialist. Having diabetes and any other condition on top can lead to all sorts of issues/complications, so the very fact that you are diabetic is reason enough to get to see a specilist in a lot of cases... just my opinion, but at least that way you get the best treatment from someone who has detailed knowledge of the area!
I couldn't agree more - diabetes affects any and every other medical condition or surgical procedure you could have.
Most doctors of any kind are not aware enough of this fact.
Type 2 Diabetes, on Metformin 2/day. HbA1c 6.3% August 2012; 6.1% May 2012; 6.3% Feb 2012. BMI 40 (was 45, aiming for 27). Also on a proton pump inhibitor, an analgesic, an anti-hypertensive and 2 anti-depressants.
Thanks for all your replies. Finally, after the shampoo for dermatitus not working, I went back to a different GP and was told it was psoriasis and that only the cream I had been given would work. I think it was related mainly to a stressful situation I had been going through, as its much better now a lot of the stress has been resolved.
im not sure if this is the right place to post but its skin related so il see if anyone can give advice lol
basically ive had Glanuloma annularis or G.A only on my knee(just slightly left not actual joint) recurrin for a couple years (first found out the name after a bad case of DKA) the last patch just got really nasty looking then vanished after temp steroids but its coming back n although its only about £2 coin size im concerned again its hard to leave it alone so as a normal human ive started scratching it and i swear its gotten redder n stings more that before even my clothes touchin it can aggravate it
ive mention it before to a doctor but to be honest they dont take me seriously(im not gd with bg control never hav been plus the steroid cream worked fine then as soon i stopped it the itchy bump came back
so anyway is theyr anything than can help and will this cause my vitilgo any problems?
by apple123 » June 5th, 2012, 12:25 am 
, more difficult to heal.
plus the steroid cream worked fine then as soon i stopped it the itchy bump came back