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The Surprising Link Between Blood Sugar, Inflammation, and Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS)
If you’re living with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), you probably already know this condition is more than just a skin issue — it’s deeply tied to inflammation throughout the body. I know I am not alone in experiencing joint pain and fatigue along with my HS. But did you know that your blood sugar plays a major role in fueling (or calming) that inflammation?
In this post, we’ll explore:
✅ How blood sugar dysregulation increases inflammation
✅ Why high blood sugar impairs wound healing
✅ The connection between sugar, candida overgrowth, and HS
✅ Simple, sustainable steps you can take to support your body
Why Blood Sugar Matters for Inflammation
Even if you don’t have diabetes or prediabetes, frequent blood sugar spikes and crashes can cause stress on the body.
When you eat a lot of refined carbs or sugar, your blood sugar rises. Your body releases insulin to pull that sugar into cells, but frequent surges of insulin increase inflammatory cytokines — chemical messengers that ramp up inflammation throughout the body.
For someone with an inflammatory condition like hidradenitis suppurativa, this creates a perfect storm:
- More inflammatory signals →
- More immune system activation →
- More skin flares, swelling, and pain.
The goal is not to have low blood sugar numbers all the time, a glycemic response to foods is normal, what you want rolling hills, not peaks and valleys.
Get my Reversing Insulin Resistance Guide – on sale now!
Sugar and Wound Healing in HS
HS is known for causing painful nodules, abscesses, and skin tunnels (sinus tracts). These wounds can take a long time to heal, and blood sugar plays a critical role.
Here’s how:
❗ High blood sugar impairs immune function → making it harder to fight infection.
❗ It damages small blood vessels → reducing oxygen and nutrient delivery to tissues.
❗ It slows collagen production → which is essential for repairing skin and rebuilding tissue.
If you’ve ever wondered why some HS wounds seem to linger or heal slowly, unstable blood sugar could be part of the reason.
Have you ever had high cholesterol, only to lower carbs and cut out sugar and it goes down? This is because high cholesterol is often a response to that blood vessel damage. Let’s dive into this a a bit more.
When blood sugar stays elevated over time (chronic hyperglycemia), it triggers a series of damaging effects on the vascular system:
✅ 1. Glycation of proteins
Excess glucose attaches to proteins in the blood and vessel walls, forming advanced glycation end products (AGEs).
→ These AGEs stiffen and thicken blood vessels, reducing their flexibility and making them more prone to damage.
✅ 2. Oxidative stress
High blood sugar increases the production of free radicals (unstable molecules that damage cells).
→ These free radicals attack the delicate lining of blood vessels, called the endothelium, impairing its ability to dilate and regulate blood flow.
✅ 3. Inflammation
Chronic hyperglycemia activates inflammatory pathways, leading to the release of cytokines and adhesion molecules.
→ This inflammation promotes the buildup of plaque (atherosclerosis) and further weakens vessel walls.
✅ 4. Impaired nitric oxide production
Nitric oxide is a key molecule that helps vessels relax and dilate. High glucose levels reduce nitric oxide availability.
→ This leads to vasoconstriction, impaired blood flow, and higher blood pressure.
✅ 5. Microvascular and macrovascular damage
- Small vessels (microvascular): Damage leads to issues in the skin, eyes (retinopathy), kidneys (nephropathy), and nerves (neuropathy).
- Large vessels (macrovascular): Damage increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease.
🔍 Why This Matters for HS & Wound Healing
Damaged blood vessels can’t deliver oxygen, nutrients, and immune cells efficiently to tissues → This slows wound healing, increases infection risk, and contributes to chronic inflammation — all critical concerns for people with hidradenitis suppurativa.
Blood Sugar, Candida, and HS: What’s the Connection?
Another piece of the puzzle is candida, a type of yeast that naturally lives in the body but can overgrow when conditions are right.
When you consume excess sugar, you feed this yeast, increasing the risk of candida overgrowth in the gut, on the skin, and even in wounds.
Candida overgrowth can:
- Increase local and systemic inflammation
- Contribute to recurrent infections
- Exacerbate itching, irritation, and delayed healing
For people with HS, managing blood sugar and reducing excess sugar intake can help keep candida in check — supporting both gut health and skin health.
Simple Steps to Balance Blood Sugar and Support Healing
You don’t need a drastic diet overhaul to make progress. Here are small, sustainable shifts you can make today:
✅ Pair carbs with protein and fat — This slows digestion and prevents blood sugar spikes.
✅ Increase fiber intake — Fiber helps buffer blood sugar and supports gut health.
✅ Reduce added sugars — Start with obvious sources (sodas, sweetened coffee, packaged snacks) and aim for gradual reductions.
✅ Support gut health — Incorporate fermented foods, probiotics, and antifungal herbs if needed.
✅ Focus on consistent, balanced meals — Skipping meals can lead to blood sugar crashes, which also stress the body.
Remember: You don’t need to go keto or cut out all carbs. Balanced, steady eating can work wonders for inflammation and skin health. In my 53 page guide to reversing insulin resistance you get a step by step guide on all of this.
Final Thoughts: It’s Not About Perfection
If you’re managing hidradenitis suppurativa, you already have enough on your plate — the last thing you need is another extreme diet.
Start with one small change. Maybe it’s swapping your sugary afternoon snack for something with protein, or adding more fiber-rich veggies to your meals. Over time, these small steps add up, helping lower inflammation, improve wound healing, and support your overall health. I have a 10-minute YouTube video, going into the details of how to make these simple changes.
Want to Learn More?
If you’re curious about how blood sugar impacts your HS, or you want personalized nutrition guidance, I’d love to help!
👉 Send me an email cristina@thecastawaykitchen.com – and we can discuss how I can help you
👉 Download my free HS + Blood Sugar guide here
And if you’ve noticed a connection between sugar and your HS flares, drop a comment below — I’d love to hear your story!
