People living with diabetes often focus on managing blood sugars, medications, and diet — but skin health is an equally important and often overlooked part of the picture. In this episode, Dr. Steve Edelman sits down with Dr. Tanya Nino, a board-certified dermatologist, to explore the skin conditions commonly seen in people with diabetes. From everyday concerns like dry, itchy skin to more serious fungal infections and rare complications like necrobiosis lipoidica, Dr. Nino offers clear explanations, helpful tips, and guidance on when to seek medical care. This episode is packed with practical advice to help people living with diabetes better protect and care for their skin.

Key Topics:

• Dry skin in people with diabetes often results from impaired barrier function and poor circulation, increasing the risk of cracks, infection, and delayed healing.
• Yeast infections in skin folds are more common when high blood sugar and trapped moisture allow Candida to thrive, particularly under the breasts, groin, or abdomen.
• Fungal infections like athlete’s foot and nail fungus are harder to treat in diabetes and can lead to serious foot complications if not managed early.
• Chronic itching and the itch-scratch cycle are common with dry diabetic skin and can worsen inflammation and skin damage without proper care.
• Dark skin patches (acanthosis nigricans) may signal insulin resistance and are often seen on the neck or underarms in people with type 2 diabetes.
• Shin spots (diabetic dermopathy) are harmless but visible signs of microvascular damage from long-term diabetes, often triggered by minor trauma.
• Skin tags in high-friction areas are linked to insulin resistance and may be an early physical marker of metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes.
• Necrobiosis lipoidica, a rare condition in type 1 diabetes, causes fragile reddish plaques on the shins that can ulcerate and require dermatologic care.
• Skin care for people with diabetes is essential to prevent infections, detect warning signs early, and protect overall health.

When complications like chronic kidney disease and Type 1 diabetes intersect, it can feel overwhelming. In this episode, Dr. Steve Edelman sits down with Kristen Hohmann, a Type 1 diabetic who underwent both kidney and pancreas transplants, to explore her journey of managing diabetes, overcoming kidney failure, and pursuing the life-changing decision to undergo a dual organ transplant. Kristen shares the emotional, physical, and mental challenges she faced along the way, offering valuable insights into the transplant process and the importance of self-advocacy.

Key Topics:

• Kristen’s diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes and the progression to kidney failure
• The emotional toll of needing a kidney transplant
• How Kristen researched and decided on a kidney and pancreas transplant
• The transplant process: Waiting for a donor and the realities of the surgery
• The challenges of recovery and life after receiving a new kidney and pancreas
• How self-advocacy played a crucial role in Kristen’s journey
• The importance of a multidisciplinary approach to diabetes care and transplant management
• Insights into life after diabetes and the impact of the transplant on Kristen’s health

American Diabetes Association (ADA): www.diabetes.org
National Kidney Foundation: www.kidney.org
Mayo Clinic Transplant Services: www.mayoclinic.org

Managing Type 1 diabetes is complex, but when an eating disorder like diabulimia enters the picture, it becomes even more challenging. In this episode, Dr. Steve Edelman and Dr. Jeremy Pettus sat down with clinical psychologist Dr. Liana Abascal to explore the psychological and physical impact of eating disorders, particularly diabulimia, in individuals with Type 1 diabetes. They dive deep into the signs, risk factors, and treatment strategies for those struggling with both diabetes and eating disorders.

Key Topics:

• Understanding diabulimia and how it affects people with Type 1 diabetes
• The psychological link between body image, control, and diabetes
• How disordered eating behaviors can develop in people with Type 1 diabetes
• Treatment strategies: Addressing both the psychological and physical aspects of care
• The importance of a multidisciplinary approach to treating diabulimia
• How healthcare providers can better support patients with Type 1 diabetes and eating disorders
• Available resources for patients and families dealing with eating disorders in diabetes

Show Notes:

• Diabulimia Hotline: www.diabulimiahotline.org
  
  
• American Diabetes Association (ADA): www.diabetes.org