Diabetic Skin Care Tips

Posted on by Jordan Soblick

Diabetes can negatively affect many organs, from the heart to the lungs to the kidneys. But it can also cause problems for the biggest organ of them all: the skin. People with diabetes are more likely to develop skin problems or have difficulty healing cuts, scrapes, or abrasions that would be minor for other people. Fortunately, you can do plenty of things to protect yourself and your skin from diabetes-related complications (beyond not falling down or injuring yourself).

Here are six skin care tips for individuals with diabetes:

  1. Educate yourself. The first step to preventing diabetes complications is to understand what causes them. Speak with your healthcare team and find other reputable resources to learn about your risks and how to lower them.
  2. Check yourself. Diabetic nerve damage, also called neuropathy, can make it difficult to feel pain and discomfort, especially in the legs and feet. You could have a cut, puncture, or scratch without realizing it. Left untreated, those wounds could become infected, also without your knowing it. Inspect your legs, ankles, feet, and in between your toes every day for new injuries or old ones that haven’t healed.
  3. Quickly treat sores and wounds to prevent infection and speed healing.
  4. Cover yourself. Wearing long-sleeve shirts, pants, shoes, and gloves can prevent skin injuries. Protecting yourself from wind and cold with hats, scarves, and other cold-weather gear can also help you avoid skin damage.
  5. Stay clean and moisturize. Dry, cracked skin can be uncomfortable and unattractive and is more prone to infection. Keep your skin clean and dry, but moisturize when needed and use lip balm to prevent chapped lips.
  6. Control your diabetes. Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is an essential component of managing diabetes and minimizing the risk of complications, including those that can affect your skin.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) is a tested, approved, and easy-to-use transceiver device that helps those with diabetes control their condition and their lives without the need for inconvenient and burdensome finger-pricking multiple times a day.

Ask your doctor about CGM and contact us today to see if you qualify for CGM and access our guide to continuous glucose monitoring.

CALL US TO QUALIFY NOW

If you are not insured, or have a high deductible health insurance plan, you can still purchase the Freestyle Libre Reader and Sensors at extremely competitive prices. Prices starting as low as $99 per month

1-888-308-0094

*Fingersticks are required for treatment decisions when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol, when symptoms do not match system readings when you suspect readings may be in accurate, or when you experience symptoms that may be due to high or low blood glucose.

Reference 1: Data on file. Abbott Diabetes Care. 2, FreeStyle Libre 14 day User’s Manual

Indications and Important Safety Information

FreeStyle Libre and FreeStyle Libre 14 day Flash Glucose Monitoring systems are continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices indicated for replacing blood glucose testing and detecting trends and tracking patterns aiding in the detection of episodes of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, facilitating both acute and long-term therapy adjustments in persons (age 18 and older) with diabetes. The systems are intended for single patient use and require a prescription.

CONTRAINDICATIONS: Remove the sensor before MRI, CT scan, X-ray, or diathermy treatment.

WARNINGS/LIMITATIONS: Do not ignore symptoms that may be due to low or high blood glucose, hypoglycemic unawareness, or dehydration. Check sensor glucose readings with a blood glucose meter when Check Blood Glucose symbol appears, when symptoms do not match system readings, or when readings are suspected to be inaccurate. The system does not have alarms unless the sensor is scanned, and the system contains small parts that may be dangerous if swallowed. The system is not approved for pregnant women, persons on dialysis, or critically-ill population. Sensor placement is not approved for sites other than the back of the arm and standard precautions for transmission of blood borne pathogens should be taken. The built-in blood glucose meter is not for use on dehydrated, hypotensive, in shock, hyperglycemic-hyperosmolar state, with or without ketosis, neonates, critically-ill patients, or for diagnosis or screening of diabetes. When using FreeStyle LibreLink app, access to a blood glucose monitoring system is required as the app does not provide one. Review all product information before use or contact Abbott Toll Free (855-632-8658) or visit www.freestylelibre.us for detailed indications for use and safety information.html. . FreeStyle, Libre, and related brand marks are trademarks of Abbott Diabetes Care Inc. in various jurisdictions. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2018 Abbott. ADC-09691 vLO 10/18

*The FreeStyle LibreLink app and the FreeStyle Libre 14 day reader have similar but not identical features. Fingersticks are required for treatment decisions when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol, when symptoms do not match system readings, when you suspect readings may be inaccurate, or when you experience symptoms that may be due to high or low blood glucose.

The FreeStyle Libre 2 app and the FreeStyle Libre 2 reader have similar but not identical features. Fingersticks are required for treatment decisions when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol and when your glucose alarms and readings from the system do not match symptoms or expectations

‡‡‡Based on the sensor being replaced once every 14 days, and scanned at least once every 8 hours.

§§§Glucose readings are not available during 1-hour warm-up, when sensor is too hot or too cold, when you see an error or "LO" or "HI" message, or no current glucose reading