I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 2 months ago but since taking metformin I have worst itching down below I've been to my doctor tried couple of creams now I'm on antibiotics to see if that might sort the problem. But I'm so depressed and down please if anyone can advise I would be great full.
Please help
- Thread starter Ashalal24
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Jenniewren1958
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ziggy_w
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- Type of diabetes
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Hi @Ashalal24,
Welcome to the forum. I am tagging @daisy1, who will post some really helpful info for new members.
The itching might be related to high blood sugar levels. It is often caused by yeast, which feeds on glucose. So, lowering blood sugars might ultimately also help with the itching.
Do you measure your blood sugar levels at all using a glucometer? Most of us here use a glucometer to figure out how our blood sugars react to food. Eliminating foods that cause blood sugars to rise significantly usually greatly improves glycemic control and many of us T2s have been able to return to non-diabetic blood sugar levels and come off all medication. So, please take heart.
Have a read around and just ask away when you are ready. There are lots of knowledgeable, friendly and helpful members on this forum who will be happy to answer your questions.
Welcome to the forum. I am tagging @daisy1, who will post some really helpful info for new members.
The itching might be related to high blood sugar levels. It is often caused by yeast, which feeds on glucose. So, lowering blood sugars might ultimately also help with the itching.
Do you measure your blood sugar levels at all using a glucometer? Most of us here use a glucometer to figure out how our blood sugars react to food. Eliminating foods that cause blood sugars to rise significantly usually greatly improves glycemic control and many of us T2s have been able to return to non-diabetic blood sugar levels and come off all medication. So, please take heart.
Have a read around and just ask away when you are ready. There are lots of knowledgeable, friendly and helpful members on this forum who will be happy to answer your questions.
Last edited:
Hi Ashalal, I had this when I was first diagnosed and when my glucose levels were sky high, can you tell us what your usual levels have been since diagnosis? I note the advice to 'change your lifestyle, lose weight and get more exercise' but that is an assumption (for all we know you are a super fit athlete).
shelley262
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Hi and welcome to the forum. I had this problem and it was why I went to dr in first place! I think it may well be to do with very high blood glucose - mine was 97 Hbac1 on diagnosis. It went once my bgs were back under control and quickest way is to go low carb. Metformin won’t lower your sugars that quickly if you are not changing your diet. Are you testing your bloods too as that will help you see if that is the problem. Depression too unfortunately goes with the territory with some people feeling very low on a diagnosis and all it entails in terms of life changes.
You will get better by taking advice and support on here and ask away if you need any more info4mation about testing or diet. Meanwhile be kind to yourself and work on ditching those carbs......
catapillar
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Thrush is a symptom of high blood sugar levels. The yeast infection is nourished by sugar in your pee. So, what do your blood sugar levels look like? If you are regularly seeing levels over 11, you will be peeing out sugar and you will have little chance of getting rid of thrush until you can get your blood sugar under control.
daisy1
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@Ashalal24
Hello Ashalal24 and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you like and someone will be able to help.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS
Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.
A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.
On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.
The role of carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.
If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.
The bad news
Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.
The good news
People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.
Controlling your carbs
The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.
The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.
Choosing better carbohydrates
The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.
Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
Eating what works for you
Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.
To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:
Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.
You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.
Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.
Hello Ashalal24 and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you like and someone will be able to help.BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS
Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.
A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.
On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.
The role of carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.
If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.
The bad news
Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.
The good news
People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.
Controlling your carbs
The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
- Reduce your carbohydrate intake
- Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.
The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.
Choosing better carbohydrates
The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.
Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
Eating what works for you
Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.
To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:
Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
- structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
- self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education
Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.
You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.
Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.
- Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
- Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
Resurgam
Expert
- Messages
- 9,867
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
I had no itching before diagnosis - and very little after I stopped taking the Metformin - so I blame the Metformin.
The itching was, however, not all that isolated, it was all around my hips and thighs and also up my back at night, but I could have torn off chunks of flesh quite happily if I could have stopped the worst of it.
I did get some relief by sitting in a bath of warm water with no added anything - I showered afterwards, but used nothing but warm water on my skin - just in case it was an allergy or sensitivity. I even separated out all my underwear and ran them through the rinse and spin cycle just to try to get rid of any lingering detergent, all of which did bring some relief for a while, but a week or so after stopping the Metformin it stopped too.
The itching was, however, not all that isolated, it was all around my hips and thighs and also up my back at night, but I could have torn off chunks of flesh quite happily if I could have stopped the worst of it.
I did get some relief by sitting in a bath of warm water with no added anything - I showered afterwards, but used nothing but warm water on my skin - just in case it was an allergy or sensitivity. I even separated out all my underwear and ran them through the rinse and spin cycle just to try to get rid of any lingering detergent, all of which did bring some relief for a while, but a week or so after stopping the Metformin it stopped too.
I had the same problem just before I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. They where treating me for a hormone imbalance. When they gave me Metformin it disappeared. My urine was full of sugar it was that what was causing the itching. Hope you get it sorted soon.
