Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsTreatmentWhen to Seek Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Treatment
When to Seek Care
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Common examples include:
What It Feels Like
With diabetes, the risk and severity of pruritus are largely related to the severity and duration of uncontrolled high blood sugar. While the itchiness can sometimes be transient, coming and going in episodes, it is more likely to be persistent and intense as the disease advances and remains uncontrolled.
One study found that over one-third of people with type 2 diabetes itched enough to affect their quality of life.
Relieving the Itch
Keeping your blood sugar controlled with a healthy lifestyle andmedicationscan help not only with itching but also with your general health, including your skin nerves.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Itchy skin is an annoyance, but if you have diabetes, it may be a sign that you have or are at risk for nerve damage. It can also signalprediabetes, which can lead to type 2 diabetes.
It’s time to see a healthcare provider if:
If your skin is dry enough to be cracking and flaking, your healthcare provider can recommend a prescription or OTC medication to help. It’s important to go to all follow-up appointments so that your healthcare provider can monitor your blood sugar and general health.
Summary
Itching is a common symptom of diabetes. It can be due to dry skin, poor circulation that leads to diabetic neuropathy, or yeast infections. Keeping your skin well-moisturized and hydrated can help with the itch, and anti-itch creams, often containing hydrocortisone, are available over the counter.
Itching may not seem serious, but see your healthcare provider if you have high blood sugar and your feet itch, which could be a sign of nerve damage. If your skin is dry and cracking, and the itching interrupts your sleep or daily activities, your healthcare provider can recommend stronger prescription anti-itch creams.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stefaniak AA, Krajewski PK, Bednarska-Chabowska D, Bolanowski M, Mazur G, Szepietowski JC.Itch in adult population with type 2 diabetes mellitus: clinical profile, pathogenesis and disease-related burden in a cross-sectional study.Biology (Basel). 2021;10(12):1332. doi:10.3390/biology10121332Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes and your skin.Datsi A, Steinhoff M, Ahmad F, Alam M, Buddenkotte J.Interleukin‐31: the “itchy” cytokine in inflammation and therapy.Allergy.2021;76(10):2982-2997. doi:10.1111/all.14791Mohammed L, Jha G, Malasevskaia I, Goud HK, Hassan A.The interplay between sugar and yeast infections: do diabetics have a greater predisposition to develop oral and vulvovaginal candidiasis?Cureus.2021;13(2):e13407. doi:10.7759/cureus.13407American Diabetes Association.Diabetes and skin complications.Yen FS, Hsu CC, Hu KC, et al.Metformin and the risk of chronic urticaria in patients with type 2 diabetes.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(17):11045. doi:10.3390/ijerph191711045Tziomalos K, Athyros VG.Diabetic nephropathy: new risk factors and improvements in diagnosis.Rev Diabet Stud. 2015;12(1-2):110-118. doi:10.1900/RDS.2015.12.110Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 2 diabetes and your liver.Schmelz M.Itch processing in the skin.Front Med. 2019;0. doi:10.3389/fmed.2019.00167Stefaniak AA, Chlebicka I, Szepietowski JC.Itch in diabetes: a common underestimated problem.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2019 Nov 18;38(2):177–183. do10.5114/ada.2019.89712American Academy of Dermatology Association.Diabetes: 10 warning signs that can appear on your skin.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stefaniak AA, Krajewski PK, Bednarska-Chabowska D, Bolanowski M, Mazur G, Szepietowski JC.Itch in adult population with type 2 diabetes mellitus: clinical profile, pathogenesis and disease-related burden in a cross-sectional study.Biology (Basel). 2021;10(12):1332. doi:10.3390/biology10121332Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes and your skin.Datsi A, Steinhoff M, Ahmad F, Alam M, Buddenkotte J.Interleukin‐31: the “itchy” cytokine in inflammation and therapy.Allergy.2021;76(10):2982-2997. doi:10.1111/all.14791Mohammed L, Jha G, Malasevskaia I, Goud HK, Hassan A.The interplay between sugar and yeast infections: do diabetics have a greater predisposition to develop oral and vulvovaginal candidiasis?Cureus.2021;13(2):e13407. doi:10.7759/cureus.13407American Diabetes Association.Diabetes and skin complications.Yen FS, Hsu CC, Hu KC, et al.Metformin and the risk of chronic urticaria in patients with type 2 diabetes.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(17):11045. doi:10.3390/ijerph191711045Tziomalos K, Athyros VG.Diabetic nephropathy: new risk factors and improvements in diagnosis.Rev Diabet Stud. 2015;12(1-2):110-118. doi:10.1900/RDS.2015.12.110Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 2 diabetes and your liver.Schmelz M.Itch processing in the skin.Front Med. 2019;0. doi:10.3389/fmed.2019.00167Stefaniak AA, Chlebicka I, Szepietowski JC.Itch in diabetes: a common underestimated problem.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2019 Nov 18;38(2):177–183. do10.5114/ada.2019.89712American Academy of Dermatology Association.Diabetes: 10 warning signs that can appear on your skin.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Stefaniak AA, Krajewski PK, Bednarska-Chabowska D, Bolanowski M, Mazur G, Szepietowski JC.Itch in adult population with type 2 diabetes mellitus: clinical profile, pathogenesis and disease-related burden in a cross-sectional study.Biology (Basel). 2021;10(12):1332. doi:10.3390/biology10121332Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes and your skin.Datsi A, Steinhoff M, Ahmad F, Alam M, Buddenkotte J.Interleukin‐31: the “itchy” cytokine in inflammation and therapy.Allergy.2021;76(10):2982-2997. doi:10.1111/all.14791Mohammed L, Jha G, Malasevskaia I, Goud HK, Hassan A.The interplay between sugar and yeast infections: do diabetics have a greater predisposition to develop oral and vulvovaginal candidiasis?Cureus.2021;13(2):e13407. doi:10.7759/cureus.13407American Diabetes Association.Diabetes and skin complications.Yen FS, Hsu CC, Hu KC, et al.Metformin and the risk of chronic urticaria in patients with type 2 diabetes.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(17):11045. doi:10.3390/ijerph191711045Tziomalos K, Athyros VG.Diabetic nephropathy: new risk factors and improvements in diagnosis.Rev Diabet Stud. 2015;12(1-2):110-118. doi:10.1900/RDS.2015.12.110Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 2 diabetes and your liver.Schmelz M.Itch processing in the skin.Front Med. 2019;0. doi:10.3389/fmed.2019.00167Stefaniak AA, Chlebicka I, Szepietowski JC.Itch in diabetes: a common underestimated problem.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2019 Nov 18;38(2):177–183. do10.5114/ada.2019.89712American Academy of Dermatology Association.Diabetes: 10 warning signs that can appear on your skin.
Stefaniak AA, Krajewski PK, Bednarska-Chabowska D, Bolanowski M, Mazur G, Szepietowski JC.Itch in adult population with type 2 diabetes mellitus: clinical profile, pathogenesis and disease-related burden in a cross-sectional study.Biology (Basel). 2021;10(12):1332. doi:10.3390/biology10121332
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes and your skin.
Datsi A, Steinhoff M, Ahmad F, Alam M, Buddenkotte J.Interleukin‐31: the “itchy” cytokine in inflammation and therapy.Allergy.2021;76(10):2982-2997. doi:10.1111/all.14791
Mohammed L, Jha G, Malasevskaia I, Goud HK, Hassan A.The interplay between sugar and yeast infections: do diabetics have a greater predisposition to develop oral and vulvovaginal candidiasis?Cureus.2021;13(2):e13407. doi:10.7759/cureus.13407
American Diabetes Association.Diabetes and skin complications.
Yen FS, Hsu CC, Hu KC, et al.Metformin and the risk of chronic urticaria in patients with type 2 diabetes.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(17):11045. doi:10.3390/ijerph191711045
Tziomalos K, Athyros VG.Diabetic nephropathy: new risk factors and improvements in diagnosis.Rev Diabet Stud. 2015;12(1-2):110-118. doi:10.1900/RDS.2015.12.110
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 2 diabetes and your liver.
Schmelz M.Itch processing in the skin.Front Med. 2019;0. doi:10.3389/fmed.2019.00167
Stefaniak AA, Chlebicka I, Szepietowski JC.Itch in diabetes: a common underestimated problem.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2019 Nov 18;38(2):177–183. do10.5114/ada.2019.89712
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Diabetes: 10 warning signs that can appear on your skin.
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