Diabetics often experience annoying itching. This is a common side effect of elevated blood sugar levels, which is a determining factor for diabetes. If you have unbearable itching, read step 1 to find out how to relieve irritation on your skin.
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Method 1 of 3: Coping With Itching by Changing Your Lifestyle
Step 1. Prevent dry skin
Keep skin moist and healthy using moisturizers and creams. Avoid using creams and lotions that contain scented ingredients because your skin may react to these ingredients and make the itching worse. Moisturize the skin twice a day. After each shower, rub about 2 tablespoons of moisturizer all over your body, or use as needed.
You should also avoid using soaps that contain fragrances as they can dry out and irritate your skin. It's best to use a mild, unscented soap
Step 2. Change the way you shower
Bathing too often can make itching worse. So, limit the shower to 2 days only. The frequency of bathing can be adjusted according to the weather conditions, climate, and your activities. However, bathing every 2 days should suffice. Avoid using very hot water when bathing as it tends to irritate the skin further. Instead, use room temperature water or even colder water. Hot water can dilate blood vessels thereby accelerating the rate of insulin metabolism which can trigger hypoglycemia.
The reason why diabetics should not use hot water is the presence of nerve damage which reduces their body's sensitivity to pain and temperature. As a result, without realizing it, their skin can burn when using hot water
Step 3. Take care of the skin in the dry season
The dry season is the perfect time to spend some time in the sun. However, sunlight can also be very irritating to the skin. To reduce itching in the dry season, wear light clothing such as cotton, chiffon, or linen. Meanwhile, other clothing, such as wool or silk can cause itching and skin irritation.
- Make sure to keep your skin dry from sweat because too much humidity can sometimes trigger itching.
- Drink lots of water to meet the skin's fluid needs. Drink 8 glasses (250 ml in volume) every day. However, if you are active or live in a hot climate, you may need to drink more water.
Step 4. Treat skin in winter
If you live in a 4 seasons country, your skin will be very dry during winter. As a result, diabetics have to maintain more moisture and try to meet the fluid needs of their skin. Moisturize your skin twice a day with a fragrance-free lotion. Turning on a humidifier along with heating can also relieve and prevent itching from getting worse.
Step 5. Reduce stress
Itching will intensify when stressed. This means, when stressed, the itching you feel will get worse. To deal with stress, practice relaxation. This exercise includes:
- Meditation. By meditating, you can clear your mind and release the stress you are feeling. Meditate for a few minutes each morning so that your mind remains relaxed throughout the day.
- Use motivational sentences. Define a phrase or sentence that calms you down, such as "Everything will be fine," or "It's okay." When you start to feel stressed, take a few deep breaths and repeat the words in your mind until you feel calm.
Method 2 of 3: Coping With Itching With Home Treatments
Step 1. Use a cold compress to soothe the skin
The use of cold compresses is very useful to relieve itching on the skin. Temperature signals are relayed through the same pathways as itching signals to the brain. Apply a cold compress to the itchy area until it subsides.
You can also take a cold shower to relieve itching. Just remember that diabetics are not advised to bathe too often, especially if your blood glucose levels are difficult to control. So, you should only use a cold compress
Step 2. Try using an oatmeal mixture to relieve itching
Combine cup of water with 1 cup of colloidal oatmeal and mix until it forms a thick paste. Apply this mixture to the itchy area. Let the oatmeal mixture sit on your skin for 15 minutes. Oatmeal will relieve itching and make you feel more comfortable for a while.
Step 3. Use a baking soda mixture to reduce the itching sensation
You can also use a paste made by mixing half a cup of water with a cup of baking soda. Stir the mixture with a spoon until smooth and smooth. Apply this mixture to the itchy body part and leave it on for 15 minutes, then wash it off.
Method 3 of 3: Overcome Itching with Medication
Step 1. Use an over-the-counter medicated cream
Creams or ointments can be used to relieve your itching. Keep in mind that a penny-sized cream can cover twice the area of your palm. Look for a medication that contains one of the following ingredients to treat itching:
Camphor, menthol, phenol, diphenhydramine, and benzocaine
Step 2. Apply steroid ointment to the itchy area
Some over-the-counter anti-itch creams contain steroids and can relieve itching. Hydrocortisone cream is usually the first choice and can be purchased over-the-counter at most pharmacies. You can also use betamethasone cream which has the same effect as hydrocortisone.
Keep in mind that you should not use creams or ointments containing steroids long term without consulting your doctor first
Step 3. Use an antifungal cream to prevent yeast infections
If you have diabetes, your immune system will weaken. As a result, your body is more susceptible to infection. One of them is a fungal infection that grows on the skin and causes itching. To fix this, look for an antifungal cream that contains:
Miconazole, ketoconazole, or benzoic acid
Step 4. Use an antihistamine
Histamine is the hormone that causes itching. As long as you use antihistamines, these hormones will be suppressed so that the itching you feel will subside. Commonly used antihistamines include:
Chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Keep in mind that these antihistamines will make you drowsy
Step 5. Discuss other options with your doctor
If the above methods do not relieve your itching, or you suspect that the itching is caused by a serious problem, you should contact your doctor. The doctor will further examine the cause of your itching.
