has any one else?

josie · Jan 3, 2010

i was diagnosed type 2 in late september 09 but all during the summer i had all the symtoms but i also suffered with another problem but i dont know whether it is part of the diabetes or not could anybody help.

what it is is i start itching on my arms and back and then i come out in a rash all over and the itch gets so bad that i am scratching so bad that i bleed, this also happened last year and my gp said it was a summer type problem and gave me antihistamines and cream, which do help but this week (winter) the problem has started again but with the doctors being closed i could only get some piriton over the counter and ended up taking 4 a day cos they dont work so well, my arms and back come up in a rash then blisters and its really itchy. can anybody help, is it associated to diabetes, if so what can i do about it, if not does anyone have an idea what it is and what i can do?

will read all replies and would be truly grateful for any help

sugarless sue · Jan 3, 2010

What are your blood sugar levels like ? High blood sugar levels can be the cause of some rashes but there are other unrelated causes of rashes.

josie · Jan 3, 2010

lately my bg levels have been up and down (upto 10.5 and down to 2.9) i go to see my dn next week for my 3 monthly check up so im hoping to ave some answers then

Lindakp · Feb 3, 2011

I have terrible itchy arms in the evening but no rash. The only way to relieve it is to use a nail brush but this causes bleeding so is not a good idea!!

Any ideas would be welcome,

primmers · Feb 3, 2011

The scratching with a nail brush description reminded me of a complication some pregnant women get - Obstetric Choleostasis. This is not connected to diabetes but to do with abnormal liver function. One of the symptoms is women being very very itchy, typified by reporting scratching with brushes to try and relieve it.

I'm not any kind of diabetes expert but in your shoes I would probably ask your GP whether the itchiness might possibly be to do with liver function.

HLW · Feb 4, 2011

It could be urticaria (also known as hives). I get that, it's very itchy, I still have the scars from last time it got really bad, the pain when I scratch through the skin is more bearable than the itching. Scratching it gently with something like a nail brush or serrated knife helps with the itching but doesnt make it bleed like scratching it with my nails does.

Piriton is evil, it makes me very drowsy and very jumpy, and makes my pupils dilate, there are loads of generic antihistamines that might work instead. Don't take more than the recommended dose, especially not of Piriton.

Most (all?) antihistamines take a few days to build up to an effective dose, I tried three types for a couple of days each, and assumed none worked, I didn't realise you had to be taking them for a few days first.

If it is urticaria, some antihistamines can work better than others, ask your GP. You could also show the rash to a chemist, they might be able to suggest an antihistamine that might work better.

Urticaria can be caused by practically almost anything, the causes include some foods, some drugs, water, sunlight, heat, cold, stress, contact with things, etc etc. I have no idea what causes mine, I can't think of any common cause for each episode, I know pressure makes it worse though, because once it has started it gets worse on skin that is stretched tight over bone eg elbows, and where clothes rub, and where my shoes are in contact with my feet.

Before the antihistamines start working, things that stop the itching are - cool/slightly warm baths and showers (but only when I am in the bath or shower, so it's only temporary relief), and lying down (so the pressure is spread out, not just on feet (standing) or bottom (sitting)) naked (so clothes don't irritate it). Nothing else I have found works, so I just have to wait for the antihistamines to work.

Dippy3103 · Feb 4, 2011

I had a horribly itchy rash that was diagnosed ad something called lichen planus. Some heavy duty steroid cream did the trick. We have a local
gp that specialises in dermalogical problems who was the one that diagnosed it. Could be worth trying to see if you have a similar service locally. I know I itched so badly I broke the skin- and a simple cream made it better. Well worth the trip.
Whilst I was waiting I found psuedocreme really helped. Might be worth a go and prob won't do any harm!

Lindakp · Feb 5, 2011

HLW said:
It could be urticaria (also known as hives). I get that, it's very itchy, I still have the scars from last time it got really bad, the pain when I scratch through the skin is more bearable than the itching. Scratching it gently with something like a nail brush or serrated knife helps with the itching but doesnt make it bleed like scratching it with my nails does.

Piriton is evil, it makes me very drowsy and very jumpy, and makes my pupils dilate, there are loads of generic antihistamines that might work instead. Don't take more than the recommended dose, especially not of Piriton.

Most (all?) antihistamines take a few days to build up to an effective dose, I tried three types for a couple of days each, and assumed none worked, I didn't realise you had to be taking them for a few days first.

If it is urticaria, some antihistamines can work better than others, ask your GP. You could also show the rash to a chemist, they might be able to suggest an antihistamine that might work better.

Urticaria can be caused by practically almost anything, the causes include some foods, some drugs, water, sunlight, heat, cold, stress, contact with things, etc etc. I have no idea what causes mine, I can't think of any common cause for each episode, I know pressure makes it worse though, because once it has started it gets worse on skin that is stretched tight over bone eg elbows, and where clothes rub, and where my shoes are in contact with my feet.

Before the antihistamines start working, things that stop the itching are - cool/slightly warm baths and showers (but only when I am in the bath or shower, so it's only temporary relief), and lying down (so the pressure is spread out, not just on feet (standing) or bottom (sitting)) naked (so clothes don't irritate it). Nothing else I have found works, so I just have to wait for the antihistamines to work.

Dippy3103 said:
I had a horribly itchy rash that was diagnosed ad something called lichen planus. Some heavy duty steroid cream did the trick. We have a local
gp that specialises in dermalogical problems who was the one that diagnosed it. Could be worth trying to see if you have a similar service locally. I know I itched so badly I broke the skin- and a simple cream made it better. Well worth the trip.
Whilst I was waiting I found psuedocreme really helped. Might be worth a go and prob won't do any harm!

Lindakp · Feb 5, 2011

Thank you both for the advice, I will try the antihistamine and the cream.

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