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Real members of MyPrurigoTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

Can eating sugar and being diabetic cause pn

A MyPrurigoTeam Member asked a question 💭
Tucson, AZ
June 30
 · 
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A MyPrurigoTeam Member

Being a retired hospital pharmacist I can say that diabetes is a much more serious condition than PN even though the symptoms are less at first. Untreated diabetes will kill you, PN won't, even though the itch can make you wish you were dead. Both diseases involve nerve dysfunction or neuropathy.

July 12
A MyPrurigoTeam Member

I've been a type 1 diabetic for 50 years and steroids are not good for diabetes that brings you blood sugar up

August 3
A MyPrurigoTeam Member

Steroids? Those are best used for short term therapies. Long term use of steroids can really screw you body up. Is it time for you to consider a new dermatologist?
BTW, are you taking or have you tried NAC and/or Allegra to help with the itch? I use both in combination with Dupixent and it has worked wonders for me.

July 11
A MyPrurigoTeam Member

I am pre diabetic so I try to eat sugar free. However, prior to this, I never felt that sugar caused pn. I know we try to analyze our food intake,, but I find that an impossible task.

June 30
MyPrurigoTeam

Great question! The short answer is: diabetes is linked to prurigo nodularis (PN), but the relationship is more complex than it might seem.

Diabetes is recognized as a comorbidity of PN, meaning the two conditions are often found together. However, having diabetes doesn't automatically mean it's the direct cause of your Show Full Answer

Great question! The short answer is: diabetes is linked to prurigo nodularis (PN), but the relationship is more complex than it might seem.

Diabetes is recognized as a comorbidity of PN, meaning the two conditions are often found together. However, having diabetes doesn't automatically mean it's the direct cause of your PN. Interestingly, research has shown that even when people get their diabetes under control, their PN can still persist. This suggests that PN has its own underlying drivers — particularly immune system overactivity and nervous system changes — that don't simply go away when blood sugar is managed.

There's also a flip side worth knowing: the inflammation caused by PN itself may actually worsen conditions like diabetes, rather than the other way around. As for sugar specifically, pro-inflammatory foods (including processed sugars and white flour) may contribute to inflammation, which can trigger or worsen PN flare-ups. Reducing these foods could potentially help manage symptoms, though everyone reacts differently to dietary changes.

Some general dietary tips that may help reduce inflammation include cutting back on:

- Processed sugars and white flour
- Alcohol
- Junk and heavily processed foods

It's always worth discussing dietary changes and diabetes management with your doctor, as both could play a role in how your PN behaves.

June 30

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