Diabetes is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. If the patient does not control blood sugar well, there is a high risk of complications occurring in large and small blood vessels, nerves, organs such as kidneys, heart, eyes, skin… Among them, skin lesions is the main cause of the infection progressing more seriously and making treatment more difficult.
Skin aging is closely related to blood glucose levels. Prolonged high blood sugar causes premature aging of skin cells. The structures in collagen fibers are altered by the glycation reaction, creating glycation products AGEs. AGEs are the abnormal attachment of glucose molecules to proteins or lipids without enzyme catalysis. The products created are giant molecules in the blood or moving in the intercellular fluid (fluid surrounding the cell) and other spaces of the cell.
In the blood, glycation occurs with hemoglobin, albumin, lens proteins, collagen, lipoproteins… causing changes in the structure of organizations. AGEs bind to RAGE receptors on macrophages and vascular endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and mesenchymal cells, leading to the release of factors that cause tissue necrosis. This process can take a lifetime. This is the main cause of premature skin aging in diabetics.
The accumulation of AGEs hardens tissues such as tendons, joints, bones, arteries and skin, which can lead to a number of health problems such as neurodegeneration and diabetic neuropathy.
Dr. Mai advises on diabetes complications. Illustration: Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City
If you have skin aging due to diabetes, you may have symptoms such as premature wrinkles, less rosy, and smooth skin. Medically, the patient’s skin barrier can be weakened due to disturbed metabolism, reducing the hydration of the stratum corneum and increasing transepidermal water loss. You have a high risk of forming ulcers on the skin, slow healing of wounds, rapid necrosis, and more serious complications such as sepsis, septic shock, leg amputation…
You should pay more attention to skin care to help protect your skin from agents that cause infection and skin damage. Moisturizing keeps skin supple and prevents cracks in dry skin to avoid infection. Use moisturizing ointments after bathing, when skin is dry or itchy, and avoid moisturizers with fragrance. Apply moisturizer to your hands regularly, and apply cream to your heels to avoid dryness and cracking.
Use gentle soap for sensitive skin. Do not bathe with hot water because it can easily lose moisture from the skin, making it dry and itchy. After bathing or washing, dry skin folds (behind the knees, between toes, armpits…) dry to avoid moisture that can easily cause fungal skin infections.
You should pay attention to checking your feet every day to see if the skin is discolored, swollen, scratched, blistered, ulcerated… to take care of the wound early and properly to avoid infection and necrosis.
To reduce skin aging, people with diabetes should control their blood sugar well with a trio of medicine, exercise, and nutrition. Regular health checks, combined with screening for foot complications, can early detect skin problems, especially in the foot area, for early treatment.