Postprandial blood glucose is associated with generalized pruritus in patients with type 2 diabetes

Although pruritus is a common complaint in patients with diabetes, little is known about its relation with glycemic control.

We investigated whether generalized pruritus is associated with glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.

A total of 385 patients with type 2 diabetes who attended the diabetes care system underwent cutaneous examination by a dermatologist at a teaching hospital in Taiwan. A detailed interview questionnaire including visual analogue scale was used to assess various characteristics and the intensity of pruritus. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association between postprandial blood glucose, preprandial blood glucose, and glycosylated hemoglobin with generalized pruritus.

Generalized pruritus was noted in 27.5% of the patients. As a result of pruritus, 24.5% of the patients had difficulties in falling asleep, 15.1% had disturbance of sleep, and 9.5% needed soporifics. Patients who had a higher postprandial glucose level had a higher probability of having generalized pruritus [OR = 1.41 (95% C.I.: 1.05-1.90), P = 0.02] in type 2 diabetic patients.

This study showed positive associations between postprandial blood glucose and generalized pruritus and suggested that a better control of postprandial glucose might be beneficial to relieve generalized pruritus in diabetic patients.