A feeling of sunburn

Sam50

Well-Known Member
Messages
228
Type of diabetes
Don't have diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Morning lovely people,

Just wanted to ask a slightly obscure question for those of you who have ever suffered with 'skin sensations' connected with T2 diabetes.

Has anyone ever experienced a feeling of sunburn on the back and been told that it's to do with being diabetic ?

As far as I can tell diabetic neuropathy tends to manifest as tingling/numbness/pins and needles/shooting pains in the peripherals- fingers and toes rather than skin hypersensitivity anywhere else.

Ever since his viral infection/shingles back in May Hubby's back has felt like it has been burnt. Consultant still maintains it was shingles. GP says it's connected with high BG (which is half what it was at diagnosis) Have since read that anxiety/high cortisol can also trigger this kind of response (!!)

Have started him on a course of Alpha Lipoeic R supplements to see if that makes any difference . GP just offered him antidepressants ( to take his mind off the feeling) which he declined.

As it's been 5 months now he is feeling a bit fed up.
Thoughts appreciated. x
 

Lally123

Well-Known Member
Messages
231
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Quite common to get something called post herpetic neuralgia after shingles. Does settle down eventually but can take years. Was the antidepressant on offer called amitriptyline (Its an old.fashioned antidepressant). If so it's quite commonly prescribed for neuralgia so if I were him I would.go back to the gp and see what options are on the table?
 
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Circuspony

Well-Known Member
Messages
971
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I had this after shingles - & it was 20 odd years before my diabetes diagnosis. It takes a long while to go and still bothered me on and off for a couple of years after I was ill.

My grandma recently had shingles in her 90s and her GP have her the anti depressants - huge help with her recovery.
 

Kentoldlady1

Well-Known Member
Messages
731
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi, my husband had shingles and the effects lasted for ages. I think some people are just unlucky. My elderly aunt also had it and suffered no lasting problems at all.
If the symptoms are very difficult I think that there are some medications that can help.
 

Sam50

Well-Known Member
Messages
228
Type of diabetes
Don't have diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
thank you everyone for your replies and yes it was amitriptyline that was offered. I have heard from others that it can take months/years to finally clear up. Pretty sure it is post herpetic neuralgia. I think he is just unlucky as I know quite a few people who have had shingles and didn't suffer with this....it does seem to come and go in it's intensity and whether it bothers him.

thanks again for replying x
 
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SimonCrox

Well-Known Member
Messages
317
Where was the shingles and is the sunburn sensation in the same place? If so, sounds like post herpetic neuralgia; there are several drugs to try such as the amitriptylline, antidepressant and the anti epilepsy tablets like gabapentin, and the creams like capsaicin.
Sometimes diabetic folk get a burning in a linear area from the back (painful radiculopathy) often if the glucose levels have just shot up.
It is generally said that most pains are worse if running high glucose levels, but I am not sure if this is true
There is a vaccination against shingles which is being rolled out and which seems very sensible
Best wishes
 

Sam50

Well-Known Member
Messages
228
Type of diabetes
Don't have diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
yep
Where was the shingles and is the sunburn sensation in the same place? If so, sounds like post herpetic neuralgia; there are several drugs to try such as the amitriptylline, antidepressant and the anti epilepsy tablets like gabapentin, and the creams like capsaicin.
Sometimes diabetic folk get a burning in a linear area from the back (painful radiculopathy) often if the glucose levels have just shot up.
It is generally said that most pains are worse if running high glucose levels, but I am not sure if this is true
There is a vaccination against shingles which is being rolled out and which seems very sensible
Best wishes
- yep sunburn sensation and shingles in same area so I'm thinking there is a connection. His glucose levels are much lower than they were so I don't think it is connected to diabetes. Thanks for the tip about capsaicin cream, might have a look for that. Yes I'd heard about the shingles vaccine, good idea. x
 
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Tannith

BANNED
Messages
1,230
When I ha
Morning lovely people,

Just wanted to ask a slightly obscure question for those of you who have ever suffered with 'skin sensations' connected with T2 diabetes.

Has anyone ever experienced a feeling of sunburn on the back and been told that it's to do with being diabetic ?

As far as I can tell diabetic neuropathy tends to manifest as tingling/numbness/pins and needles/shooting pains in the peripherals- fingers and toes rather than skin hypersensitivity anywhere else.

Ever since his viral infection/shingles back in May Hubby's back has felt like it has been burnt. Consultant still maintains it was shingles. GP says it's connected with high BG (which is half what it was at diagnosis) Have since read that anxiety/high cortisol can also trigger this kind of response (!!)

Have started him on a course of Alpha Lipoeic R supplements to see if that makes any difference . GP just offered him antidepressants ( to take his mind off the feeling) which he declined.

As it's been 5 months now he is feeling a bit fed up.
Thoughts appreciated. x
d that sunburn feeling on my back it turned out to be shingles. I did not have diabetes then.