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Is there a correlation between diabetes and acne?
There is a history of diabetes on my mother's side of the family and last year, my blood test results indicated my glucose levels were a wee bit above the normal range. (this was from the glucose fasting test and not the A1c test)
I didn't go for any further glucose tests to see if I'm at true risk for diabetes but nonetheless, I started making changes.
Since then, I've cut out sugar and have been watching my carb intake as well as being more physically active. I had gained extra weight around my middle area (common with the women in my family) and this past year, I have lost a fair bit of that extra weight.
I'll be getting another glucose test this year to see how they are.
Not surprisingly, all of this was happening as I entered perimenopause so I'm sure it didn't help my hormonal acne.
The spironolactone is really helping clear the acne but I'd also like to avoid getting diabetes for obvious reasons.
The doctors I've spoken to won't say either way if there's a link between diabetics and acne.
There is a woman at work who is diabetic (type 1) and she's almost 50 and reaching menopause, yet her skin is clear.
Halle Berry is diabetic and she has fabulous skin. (she can afford the facials, etc.)
So perhaps it depends on each person?
Any comments from members here?
Over the last 4 years, I've suspected that I've had a lot of things - including things like this. At one point I felt like I had the symptoms of diabetes, but now I'm not so sure.
However, I do feel that there is a connection between sugar levels and acne. For example, if I eat a lot of sugary food in one sitting, within a few hours my skin will become really oily. This usually leads to inflammation, redness and a small breakout. Conversely, when I eat really good, my skin's oil levels are fairly constant - even on the drier side, and the likelihood of a breakout is much slimmer.
Imo, it's not natural for the body to be subjected to all of that sugar in one sitting, since that's not how it's found in nature. I think that high sugar levels affect people in different ways. Some people will show signs of diabetes, some won't - but that doesn't mean that the high sugar dose is doing their body any good...it could still be leading to something bad. Similarly, some people might get acne from eating a high sugar diet, some might not. In other words, some people will show signs of acne from a bad diet, and some might not - but just because you don't, it doesn't mean it's not harming you. Just some people are unfortunate in that their body shows signs of the bad diet affecting them, just like everybody experiences slightly different symptoms for different medical conditions. Though that isn't to say that diet is the only factor.
Over the last 4 years, I've suspected that I've had a lot of things - including things like this. At one point I felt like I had the symptoms of diabetes, but now I'm not so sure.
However, I do feel that there is a connection between sugar levels and acne. For example, if I eat a lot of sugary food in one sitting, within a few hours my skin will become really oily. This usually leads to inflammation, redness and a small breakout. Conversely, when I eat really good, my skin's oil levels are fairly constant - even on the drier side, and the likelihood of a breakout is much slimmer.
Imo, it's not natural for the body to be subjected to all of that sugar in one sitting, since that's not how it's found in nature. I think that high sugar levels affect people in different ways. Some people will show signs of diabetes, some won't - but that doesn't mean that the high sugar dose is doing their body any good...it could still be leading to something bad. Similarly, some people might get acne from eating a high sugar diet, some might not. In other words, some people will show signs of acne from a bad diet, and some might not - but just because you don't, it doesn't mean it's not harming you. Just some people are unfortunate in that their body shows signs of the bad diet affecting them, just like everybody experiences slightly different symptoms for different medical conditions. Though that isn't to say that diet is the only factor.
I agree that sugar is definitely not good for the body so if you can avoid it, all the better. It does seem to be a very grey area with diabetes and acne and very much dependent on the individual. I do think that acne isn't a sign of developing diabetes or vice versa and I think eating a proper diet with exercise is very beneficial for the overall health regardless.