Living with diabetes requires a multifaceted approach to health management, and one often overlooked aspect is skin health. As a doctor of holistic medicine and a woman living with diabetes for over 30 years, I cannot stress enough how important it is to take care of your skin. Let's explore why this is important and what you can do to maintain healthy skin naturally.

The Link Between Diabetes and Skin Issues

Diabetes can cause several skin-related problems due to high blood sugar levels, poor circulation, and reduced nerve function. Common issues include dryness, itching, infections, and slow-healing wounds. High blood sugar levels can lead to dehydration, which dries out the skin, making it more susceptible to cracking and infection. Poor circulation can cause the skin to heal slower, making even minor cuts or scrapes a serious concern.

Holistic Self-Care Tip: Hydration is Key

One of the simplest yet most effective ways to maintain healthy skin is to stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water helps keep your skin moisturized from the inside out, reducing dryness and flakiness. Here's how to make staying hydrated easy and enjoyable:

How-to Steps:

• Infuse Your Water: Make your water more appealing by infusing it with your favourite fruits, citruses, and vegetables. Try combinations like cucumber and mint, lemon and lime, or strawberry and basil. Simply slice your chosen ingredients and add them to a pitcher of water. Let it sit in the fridge for a few hours to allow the flavours to blend.
• Prepare in Advance: Fill a large pitcher with water and your chosen infusions and store it in the fridge. This way, you'll always have refreshing, flavourful water ready to drink. Having it pre-made saves time and encourages you to drink more.
• Use a Reusable Water Bottle: Invest in a good-quality, reusable water bottle that you can carry with you wherever you go. This helps ensure you always have water handy. Look for bottles that keep water cold for hours, making it more pleasant to drink.
• Set Reminders: Use your phone or a smartwatch to set reminders to take a sip of water every hour. This can help you stay on track with your hydration goals. Consistent reminders can make it easier to develop a habit of drinking water regularly.
• Track Your Intake: Keep a water intake journal or use a hydration tracking app to monitor how much water you drink each day. This can help you ensure you're meeting your hydration needs and make adjustments as necessary.

Don't neglect your skin health. By staying hydrated and following a comprehensive skin care routine, you can prevent many common diabetic skin issues. Take action today and make hydration a priority in your daily holistic self-care routine.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Ac., C.H., RDH
Dr. Holistic Studies, Dr. Acupuncture
Diabetes Wellness Strategist & Coach
Creator & CEO of Holistic Diabetes Solutions
8 X International Best-Selling Author

As a woman living with diabetes for over 30 years, Dr. Cheryl understands the journey firsthand. When she was diagnosed, she received the same outdated advice her grandmother was given for over four decades, who relied primarily on medication, suffered from deteriorating health and eventually lost her life to diabetes. Fueled by this experience, Dr. Cheryl was compelled to seek a better way. Through countless research studies and trials, she developed the winning holistic approach: the Diabetes Success System which merges traditional wisdom with today’s best holistic self-care practices.  It has revolutionized diabetes management by providing a trusted way to maintain consistent and predictable healthy blood sugar levels.  Join the thousands of people worldwide who have been empowered by Dr. Cheryl's approach and start living your healthiest life.

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PROFESSIONAL DISCLAIMER

The material and content contained in this platform is for overall general diabetes health and education information only. It is not intended to constitute medical advice or to be a substitution for professional medical recommendations, diagnosis or treatment. All specific medical questions or changes you make to your medication and/or lifestyle should be discussed and addressed with your primary healthcare provider. Having the right mindset, doing the right movements at the right times of day, and eating foods that help keep blood sugar, insulin, and inflammation manageable can dramatically reduce your risk of the all-too-common complications of Diabetes, increase your energy levels and have you feeling your best every day.