# What is this feeling in my skin? It’s a diabetes thing, but that’s about as much as I’ve figured out
**URL:** https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/what-is-this-feeling-in-my-skin-it-s-a-diabetes-thing-but-that-s-about-as-much-as-i-ve-figured-out/6979
**Category:** Type 1 & LADA
**Created:** [March 15, 2019, 1:52am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/what-is-this-feeling-in-my-skin-it-s-a-diabetes-thing-but-that-s-about-as-much-as-i-ve-figured-out/6979 "2019-03-15T01:52:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 17
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Nickyghaleb](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Nickyghaleb)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2019, 1:52am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/what-is-this-feeling-in-my-skin-it-s-a-diabetes-thing-but-that-s-about-as-much-as-i-ve-figured-out/6979/1 "2019-03-15T01:52:12Z")
I used to only get it when my blood sugar went very high— like 400 or 500 kind of high— so I thought of it as a symptom of severe hyperglycemia and just settled on that for years.
Then, when I started on the 670G, I did a brief stint with a _very_ low carb diet. Never did a diet like this before, and I started to get the sensation at _much lower numbers_. I stopped associating it with high blood sugars and began thinking maybe it was about the _rise_. I checked for ketones one day and found I was spilling lots. With my diet being the way it was, it turns out I was spilling ketones all the time. I started to associate it with the spilling of ketones. Added carbs back into my diet, continued to get it when I was high, or rising, or low and rising… stopped testing for ketones. Stopped having any theories.
I have the sensation now. I definitely get it when my blood sugar is swinging? When I’ve had carbs maybe??? I used to think it was an indicator that I needed to do something, but I honestly am not so sure of any of it any more. It’s not painful, but it’s also not very comfortable, and it is the most pronounced in my wrists and forearms, lower legs, and maybe head, but it’s present all over.
Does anyone have _any_ idea what this could be?? Or does anyone else get skin symptoms under certain conditions??
If not, it’s back to the drawing board. 🙄
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### Author:  [@elver](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/elver)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2019, 1:59am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/what-is-this-feeling-in-my-skin-it-s-a-diabetes-thing-but-that-s-about-as-much-as-i-ve-figured-out/6979/2 "2019-03-15T01:59:06Z")
@Nickyghaleb can you describe t he symptoms? Itchy, burning, pins an needles, buzzing, weird sensations WHEN you press on the area?
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### Author:  [@Nickyghaleb](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Nickyghaleb)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2019, 2:38am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/what-is-this-feeling-in-my-skin-it-s-a-diabetes-thing-but-that-s-about-as-much-as-i-ve-figured-out/6979/3 "2019-03-15T02:38:53Z")
Awww, thanks for coming, @elver. 🤗 So it has nothing to do with pressing it. And it’s not _on_ my skin but _in_ my skin… if that makes sense? It’s not itchy, doesn’t burn, no pins and needles… It can feel like a tingling maybe? And almost like my skin is being stretched.
I can go through my day and never feel it, but I rarely go more than a couple of days without it. I’ve had the sensation for many years and don’t remember ever having it before developing diabetes. I really did think it had to do with a high blood sugar as I remember getting it with those really severe highs, but that’s not the only time. However, I do still think that it would be more pronounced the more severe the high or the faster the rise. Which completely contradicts my last theory that it’s not only associated with those two things— but welcome to my world. 🙄
I have always assumed all diabetics get this, but… maybe not. 😬
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### Author:  [@elver](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/elver)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2019, 3:46am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/what-is-this-feeling-in-my-skin-it-s-a-diabetes-thing-but-that-s-about-as-much-as-i-ve-figured-out/6979/4 "2019-03-15T03:46:39Z")
@Nickyghaleb you might be experiencing ear8signs of neuropathy. Ice packs will help to calm the nerves down if it is. Usual protocol R-I-C-E, especially the vowels.
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### Author:  [@Nickyghaleb](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Nickyghaleb)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2019, 4:04am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/what-is-this-feeling-in-my-skin-it-s-a-diabetes-thing-but-that-s-about-as-much-as-i-ve-figured-out/6979/5 "2019-03-15T04:04:50Z")
I do have neuropathy… I guess I just never thought… Hmmm. Not sure why I never thought it could have anything to do with that. 🤔
Well, I see the neurologist again in about a month and a half. I’ll definitely ask him! Thank you for taking the time to try to figure it out, @elver! I appreciate it. 🤗 Jow are you doing?? How’s the recovery going?
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### Author:  [@elver](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/elver)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2019, 4:39am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/what-is-this-feeling-in-my-skin-it-s-a-diabetes-thing-but-that-s-about-as-much-as-i-ve-figured-out/6979/6 "2019-03-15T04:39:27Z")
> [@Nickyghaleb](#):
>
> Jow are you doing?? How’s the recovery going?
Thx for asking… The second knee which was less damaged is more painful. I currently have the same range of motion in both knees. Sleeping however has been a challenge.
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### Author:  [@MM2](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/MM2)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2019, 9:53am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/what-is-this-feeling-in-my-skin-it-s-a-diabetes-thing-but-that-s-about-as-much-as-i-ve-figured-out/6979/7 "2019-03-15T09:53:44Z")
> [@Nickyghaleb](#):
>
> I do have neuropathy
Your symptoms gave me the same idea.
I have minor neuropathy, worsened after having chemo. Took gabapentin for a while and weaned off it. But occasionally still get some of the symptoms you described.
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### Author:  [@Nickyghaleb](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Nickyghaleb)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2019, 10:47pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/what-is-this-feeling-in-my-skin-it-s-a-diabetes-thing-but-that-s-about-as-much-as-i-ve-figured-out/6979/8 "2019-03-16T22:47:27Z")
I get why this is a possibility… but I have neuropathy as well, and I know the zaps. I know the numbness and tingling and all of it. I just can’t believe that with how it seems tied into my blood sugar, that it could be neuropathy. It’s interesting. Its avtrgular part of my existence, and I thought asking here would reveal something. Maybe it’s juat neuropathy though. Oh well.
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### Author:  [@TravelingOn](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/TravelingOn)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2019, 11:16pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/what-is-this-feeling-in-my-skin-it-s-a-diabetes-thing-but-that-s-about-as-much-as-i-ve-figured-out/6979/9 "2019-03-16T23:16:11Z")
It’s not some sort of food sensitivity is it? (I reread your post and think the answer would be no…) but since no one else knows…I figured I would offer this suggestion.
Maybe you’re just really aware of your own circulatory patterns?
I’m sorry I don’t have a good answer for you. ☹
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### Author:  [@elver](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/elver)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2019, 11:20pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/what-is-this-feeling-in-my-skin-it-s-a-diabetes-thing-but-that-s-about-as-much-as-i-ve-figured-out/6979/10 "2019-03-16T23:20:10Z")
@Nickyghaleb you should be consulting Dr @Eric for this! Especially as it will eventually affect your running. 🙄. Hope you are feeling better…
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### Author:  [@Nickyghaleb](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Nickyghaleb)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2019, 12:31am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/what-is-this-feeling-in-my-skin-it-s-a-diabetes-thing-but-that-s-about-as-much-as-i-ve-figured-out/6979/11 "2019-03-17T00:31:25Z")
@elver, I’m feeling just fine. 🤗 I’ve had so many long time mysteries be solved in here, I just got to thinking this would be another. No such luck this time. 😁 I really didn’t need an answer though… It’s just a thing. 😋
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### Author:  [@Nickyghaleb](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Nickyghaleb)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2019, 12:38am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/what-is-this-feeling-in-my-skin-it-s-a-diabetes-thing-but-that-s-about-as-much-as-i-ve-figured-out/6979/12 "2019-03-17T00:38:21Z")
> [@TravelingOn](#):
>
> I’m sorry I don’t have a good answer for you. ☹
You guys are so frickin sweet. You know when you’re this sweet, it makes me want to come back and report on _everything_ I have going on, right? 😆
Food sensitivities… that’s a good thought. Honestly, it’s as good a thought as that it has to do with my blood sugar. Carbs?? Carbs at a certain amount??
I have it _right now_. In the back of my right hand… and I was borderline low for sometime, and then I had… a _lot_ of carbs. ?? I thought it had to do with the change in blood sugar or in the rise, which I’m sure I’m well on my way now, but maybe it’s the carbs…
See, I said I didn’t need an answer and yet I continue to consider it all out loud. Maybe I should put this energy into making sure my blood sugar is right. 😁
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### Author:  [@Beacher](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Beacher)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2019, 2:30pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/what-is-this-feeling-in-my-skin-it-s-a-diabetes-thing-but-that-s-about-as-much-as-i-ve-figured-out/6979/13 "2019-03-17T14:30:08Z")
> [@Nickyghaleb](#):
>
> almost like my skin is being stretched.
It might just be high BG. I focused on the stretched feeling, because it’s more unusual than tingling, which can be associated with a million benign things. I found this [blog discussion of what high feels like](http://sixuntilme.com/wp/2013/11/06/high-blood-sugar-feels-like/), where one person says, “I feel a weird tightness or pressure, as if my skin has become too small for my body,” and someone replies, “That’s how I describe it to my doc. My skin growing too tight!” (Unless you wrote one of those yourself, as Patti or boni dutch.😆)
On [another website](http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetes-discussions/general/17119-high-blood-sugar-and-jumping-out-of-your-skin), someone says, “Yes, itchy, tight skin. I think it’s the dehydration.” So maybe drink lots of water next time you know you’re trending higher, or as soon as you feel those symptoms, and see if that has any effect.
Anyway, in a fairly comprehensive rundown of [skin manifestations of diabetes](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK481900/), there was nothing that sounded similar.
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### Author:  [@Nickyghaleb](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Nickyghaleb)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2019, 4:18pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/what-is-this-feeling-in-my-skin-it-s-a-diabetes-thing-but-that-s-about-as-much-as-i-ve-figured-out/6979/14 "2019-03-17T16:18:26Z")
> [@Beacher](#):
>
> Unless you wrote one of those yourself, as Patti or boni dutch.😆)
I didn’t, but I think I know now who I need to see…
> [@Beacher](#):
>
> So maybe drink lots of water next time you know you’re trending higher, or as soon as you feel those symptoms, and see if that has any effect.
That’s a great idea. I know it’s not just a high blood sugar that causes it because I can get it at 60, but I still think it’s the rise… but it’s not crazy at all to suggest that dehydration might be another factor. Interesting idea. As a consumer of only coffee and Coke Zero, and, yes, I know that’s disgusting, I know how to do dehydration. I’ve been trying to drink more water anyway, so this will just give me some more motivation. I’ll go drink now. Thank you, @Beacher. 🤗
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### Author:  [@TravelingOn](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/TravelingOn)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2019, 4:53pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/what-is-this-feeling-in-my-skin-it-s-a-diabetes-thing-but-that-s-about-as-much-as-i-ve-figured-out/6979/15 "2019-03-17T16:53:30Z")
> [@Nickyghaleb](#):
>
> As a consumer of only coffee and Coke Zero
Oh my goodness! Maybe that’s the feeling of coffee and Coke zero running through your veins?
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### Author:  [@Nickyghaleb](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Nickyghaleb)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2019, 7:04pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/what-is-this-feeling-in-my-skin-it-s-a-diabetes-thing-but-that-s-about-as-much-as-i-ve-figured-out/6979/16 "2019-03-17T19:04:38Z")
> [@TravelingOn](#):
>
> Maybe that’s the feeling of coffee and Coke zero running through your veins?
Yes, I suppose that could be… but it just seems that the feeling of coffee and Coke Zero running through my veins would feel more fun. 🤔
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### Author:  [@MichaelS](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/MichaelS)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2019, 2:09am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/what-is-this-feeling-in-my-skin-it-s-a-diabetes-thing-but-that-s-about-as-much-as-i-ve-figured-out/6979/17 "2019-03-18T02:09:43Z")
It can’t be the coffee, that’s all I drink ( unless I’m diving, and then it’s water 24hr before to 24hr after).😀