Herpes is a serious condition that affects around 491.5 million people worldwide. After initial primary infection, this causes lifetime latent infections in their hosts.
While there is no cure for herpes, you can learn to live with it. Proper personal hygiene and natural genital herpes treatment can help reduce your symptoms. It usually comes in the form of an ointment or cream. Using natural treatments for genital herpes can help you heal faster and lessen the pain.
Diabetes is also a prevalent condition that affects a lot of people around the globe. The primary cause of diabetes varies depending on the type. But diabetes, regardless of the type, can cause an excess of sugar in the blood. Too much sugar in the bloodstream can cause major health issues.
Diabetes and herpes viruses do not seem to be diseases that go hand in hand. So, how do the two health conditions relate to each other? Read on to find out more about this and if diabetes can worsen herpes.
What Happens if You Have Diabetes?
Diabetes is a health condition that affects how your body maintains healthy blood sugar levels. If you have one, your body either does not produce enough insulin or does not use it as well as it should.
As time goes by, its consequences become much more complicated. You can experience serious, life-threatening complications all over your body. That’s because having too much blood sugar is harmful to your blood vessels and nerves. This will pave the way for a variety of illnesses, such as:
- Stroke.
- Heart disease.
- Kidney disease.
- Eye problems.
- Feet or leg problems.
Diabetes affects several regions of the body, including the skin. One in every three diabetics (Type 1 or Type 2) will develop a skin rash or other skin condition at some point. But a diabetes rash will go away after your blood sugar is under control.
How is Diabetes Linked to Herpes?
Most type 1 or type 2 diabetics can experience immune system deterioration. As you know, the immune system is what keeps you from getting diseases and infections. It is your number one protection against viruses like herpes simplex virus (HSV). People often strengthen their immune systems by sleeping early and eating healthily.
With conditions like diabetes that weaken the immune system, these activities may not be enough. That’s why if you have diabetes, you are more prone to contracting viruses like HSV.
This type of virus is one of the most prevalent and simple sexually transmitted illnesses to contract. If you are careless around those who are already sick, you’ll have more chances of developing HSV. But if you maintain a healthy diet and take natural genital herpes treatment, you can prevent the development of HSV.
To be clear, diabetes does not cause STIs. But it can worsen herpes outbreaks. After the first herpes outbreak, it will stay in its latency period. But when your immune system is weak, herpes outbreaks will occur more often.
The herpes virus may be dormant and persist in the body’s nerve cells. Outbreaks are triggered by stressors and other lifestyle changes. But even so, diabetics will constantly experience outbreaks for the rest of their lives.
How to Know if You Have Herpes?
Herpes carries such a bad reputation that many people get upset when they are diagnosed with it. This is partly because STIs are episodic. This means that after an outbreak has subsided, the virus remains dormant in your nervous system. The virus doesn’t stay dormant for the rest of your life. With the right trigger, you can experience another outbreak.
But you should know that not everyone with herpes will experience recurrent outbreaks.
Another one of people’s misconceptions of herpes is that it affects their sexual life. This is not true at all, since you can manage herpes. By doing so, you can lower your chance of spreading it to others and minimize or even prevent further outbreaks.
Contracting HSV is alarming, but you need to know how you can spot its early signs and symptoms. This way, you can get the right treatment for it. Remember that if you have underlying conditions such as diabetes, it will be difficult for you to treat herpes. With that in mind, the following are some of the early signs that you have been infected with HSV:
- There is tingling, itching, or pain before blisters form.
There are different stages of herpes, and each of these stages presents itself in different ways. Blistering does not happen until the second stage.
In the prodrome stage, which is the first stage, you will experience itchiness, tingling, or pain before blisters appear. Normally, an eruption follows, but it’s possible to feel tingling or itching without any sores appearing.
- There are blisters around your genitals or anus.
It is a health concern when you notice that there are bumps in your genital area. But this does not immediately mean that you have genital herpes. Sometimes, these bumps appear because of ingrown hair or skin irritation.
So how would you know if it’s herpes?
Fortunately, there is a clear distinction between these bumps and herpes blisters. Herpes lesions are ulcerated, which means that they will have a tiny crater or clearing in the middle.
Herpes blisters can occur in any number, but often one to three lesions form a small cluster. These blisters do not only exist on your genitals. If they show up on your anus, upper thighs, and perineum, then it can be genital herpes.
- You feel pain or itchiness around the area where blisters appear.
You’ll know that the bumps are herpes lesions when they are painful to touch. This is especially true during your first herpes outbreak, wherein the lesions tend to be more severe. The discomfort that women feel with these lesions is what drives them to visit a doctor. Additionally, you will also feel itchy, particularly when they start to scab and heal.
- It burns when you urinate.
Herpes lesions are open sores. That means that when it comes into contact with your urine, you will experience severe pain and burning around the area.
But you should know that this burning sensation doesn’t only happen when you have genital herpes. People with UTI also feel the same when they pee.
So it’s important to see a doctor when the first symptoms appear. They will run some tests for you to determine if what you’re experiencing are signs of herpes or not. This way, they can recommend the right genital herpes treatment for you.
- You have cold sores on your lips and mouth.
Not all people with genital herpes have symptoms. The same can be said for those with oral herpes. But for some, they will experience cold sore outbreaks that can recur. Even if they can’t be cured, cold sores can be treated, often with antiviral medications.
What Should You Do to Prevent Contracting Herpes?
The best defense against herpes for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes is prevention. If you have a weak immune system, it’s easier to catch any type of virus. But, some steps can help you prevent getting herpes.
- If you have oral herpes, you should not share any objects that may have touched your mouth. Not only that but you should avoid any oral contact with others. Also, maintain proper oral hygiene.
- If you have genital herpes, you should avoid activities that require direct contact with your genitals. But having genital herpes doesn’t prevent you from having sex. You still can if you practice safe sex. This also applies even if you have herpes on your vagina.
- It’s also important to manage and treat your diabetes. With type 1 diabetes, you will need to use an insulin pump. Treatment for type 2 diabetes often involves lifestyle changes. Managing and treating diabetes will protect you from further immune system deterioration.
Oral herpes and genital herpes spread even without symptoms. But they are most infectious when sores are present. That means if you have diabetes or another disease, you should always take precautions.
Go See a Doctor or Avoid It Altogether
Do you find yourself with both diabetes and herpes? If so, then there’s no need to feel overwhelmed by this.
Diabetes is a common disease. That means it can hit anyone, and so can herpes. But the good news is that treatment is available and you can manage the condition throughout your life.
The key is to remember that these two are not death sentences. Modern medicine offers many ways to protect yourself from herpes. Getting tested for herpes is only part of what it takes to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Diabetes and herpes coexist in a person, and both illnesses call for specific treatments. If you are struggling to manage your disease, go see a doctor. They may give you the best chance at controlling diabetes and herpes as you go forward.
While there is no proof of a direct link between herpes and diabetes, you still need to check both. Having a healthy diet, good personal hygiene, and a stress-free lifestyle are the keys to keeping the viruses at bay.
