Diabetes and Cracked Fingertips: Everyone's Hands Need Help

But we have many alternatives and even vegetable oils, like pure coconut, can help when we have nothing else on hand. Still, skin care products unfortunately are greasy and take too long for inpatient people to work into their skin.

My CDE gave me a free sample of one greasy product that I can tolerate when I need it. After cracks have developed in my fingertips, I can put up with the greasy inconvenience of one such product, Aquaphor Healing Ointment from Eucerin because it works so well for me.

But for everyday use I prefer a different product. Dr. Zhu, my dermatologist, recommends and gave me samples of a skin cream that lacks both the troubling chemicals and the grease. It also mercifully free of any dyes and fragrances.

What she recommends is "Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream." While she told me that Costco has it at the best price, I also found it at my neighborhood pharmacy.

Now I keep a tube of it on every sink in my place to remind me that cream follows water. It's less confusing that way.

It's great -- when I remember that like everyone else that I need to use it.

See more of David's wellness posts:

The Truth About Walking: How a few hours can make a huge difference

What's worse, being fat or unfit? The answer may surprise you. 

Can you eat a low-carb diet AND be a vegetarian?