Hands are one of the most important part of our body. Our
hands sometimes have it rough: Harsh soaps and hot water can zap moisture
and produce chapped or cracked skin. And blood glucose checks can leave fingers
a little worse for wear. Read on for 12 ways to protect your skin.
1. Maintain Control
Diabetes control can improve the state of your skin. When
your blood glucose is elevated, your body flushes some of the excess sugar by
urinating, says Cleveland Clinic diabetes educator Shannon Knapp, RN, BSN, CDE,
who has type 1 diabetes. That gets rid of necessary fluids and can lead to
dehydrated skin. By keeping your blood glucose in line, you can avoid
dehydration that can cause serious health problems in addition to dry skin.
2. Moisturize Often
Keeping skin hydrated is important because dry skin more
easily breaks, providing a perfect entry for harmful bacteria. And people with
diabetes are more susceptible to infection than those without. By regularly
moisturizing, you can stop dry skin before it starts. Knapp says the type of
moisturizer you use doesn’t make a difference—some are advertised specifically
for people with diabetes, but you’re not required to use only those. Certain
moisturizers may be more appropriate for daytime versus overnight, however.
Ointments such as Vaseline, for instance, are oilier than lotions and creams
and may leave hands too greasy for daytime use but can be helpful overnight.
3. Skip Scents
Think twice before slathering on scented moisturizer. “You
don’t want scented lotions because that can affect your blood sugar reading,”
Knapp says. Testing with fragrant lotion on your fingertips can lead to falsely
high readings. Of course, even if you use unscented lotion, wash your hands
before checking your blood glucose. But you can skip the alcohol wipes, which
can dry out skin.
4. Cover Up
Next time you do the dishes, protect your hands by wearing
dishwashing gloves. They’ll shield your skin from harsh dish soaps, which can
dry out skin.
5. Lower the Heat
Hand-washing is essential, but constantly dousing your hands
in hot water can dehydrate them. Instead, wash your hands in warm water, which
won’t leave skin as parched.
6. Ask for Help
If drugstore lotions, creams, and ointments aren’t doing the
trick, talk to a dermatologist. These doctors are trained in skin care and can
assess your situation, troubleshoot problems, and suggest products for your
skin care needs. Your dermatologist may prescribe a special cream if your skin
requires it.
7. Rotate Finger Sticks
Frequent blood glucose testing takes a toll on your skin,
but good technique can prevent problems such as calluses. One best practice is to use different fingers for
blood glucose checks. “We’ve got 10 fingers and two sides to each finger,”
Knapp says. “So if you want to use all of them, you have 20 spots [for]
checks.”
By keeping your blood glucose on target, you can avoid a
major cause of dry skin.
By rotating through
these 20 sites, you give your skin time to heal. Constantly sticking your
finger in the same spot can cause trauma to the skin, which can eventually lead
to a callus.
8. Stick to the Side
To lessen your chances of developing calluses, use the sides
of your fingers instead of the center. Sure, you can still get calluses on the
sides of your fingertips, but you have a lower risk than if you simply use the
center of the pads. Not only that, but most people find the side of the fingers
a less painful place to prick than the sensitive center.
9. Stay Sharp
If blood glucose tests are causing problems for your skin,
check your lancet. According to Knapp, using a dull lancet can increase your
chances of getting callused fingers because it makes bigger breaks in the skin.
10. Pay Attention to Size
The gauge of your lancet determines the size of the hole it
creates in your skin. A higher gauge number (such as 33) creates a smaller hole
and therefore causes less trauma to the skin. Still, it may be necessary to use
a lower gauge if you have a hard time getting enough blood for a glucose test.
11. Keep It Shallow
Most lancing devices have a depth setting, which controls
how deep the lancet punctures the skin. By using the shallowest setting
possible, you cause less damage to the skin and are less likely to develop a
callus. If your fingers are already callused, however, you may need a deep
setting in order to get enough blood for a glucose check.
12. Try Different Sites
If tough skin on your fingers makes getting enough blood
difficult, try using an alternate site. Some people prick their palms or arms
for blood glucose checks, using a lancing device adaptable for this purpose.
But, Knapp warns, readings from alternate sites lag behind those from the
fingers and are best used when glucose is steady. At times when glucose is
rapidly rising (after eating or a hypo treatment) or falling (during exercise
orhypoglycemia), it’s best to use finger sticks.