Q: As an administrator, why do I have to worry about itchy skin in patients with diabetes?
A:Type 2 diabetes is a global public health issue. In 2021, there were 529 million people living in the world with diabetes. By 2050, it will increase to 1.31 billion people.
Likewise, the number of Medicare beneficiaries with wounds increased from 8.2 million to 10.5 million over five years.
Dry skin is the precursor to the most common skin disorder of xerosis, and type 2 diabetes with microvascular and macrovascular disorders, complications of neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy and peripheral arterial disease are predisposing risk factors for pruritus (itchy skin).
Common dermatological manifestations of skin disorders in diabetes are xerosis (64%), fungal infections (e.g., tinea cruris) (16%), and bullous pemphigoid (8%).
Some medications, such as DPP-4 inhibitors like liraglutide, may cause pruritus. Dry and itchy skin are precursors of acute and chronic wounds, especially for patients with uncontrolled diabetes.
Itchy skin can lead to skin breakdown and wound formation.
The cost of medical work-up, poor quality of life, and financial and psychosocial burden can seem insurmountable. The annual cost of chronic wound management is approximately $22.5 billion to $28 billion for the most conservative method.
What can be done to lessen this economic burden?
Simple steps like controlling hyperglycemia, reducing weight or decreasing BMI, preventing dry skin (xerosis) by regular and routine application of emollients on the skin, and early detection or treatment wounds can save billions of dollars in skin care.
After all, as the saying truthfully reminds: “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.”
From the September 2024 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
