Feet

[Matthew1990]

Right since being diagnosed with diabetes, i've been concerned with my feet, I bought myself diabetic socks.

I keep them clean everyday and nice and day and do numerous checks throughout the day.

Couple of my toes, the nail has completely gone, will it grow back? Any suggestions?

I bought myself a nice bowl today to wash the feet proper (normally wash them in the shower), just wondering any tips or advice you can give.

Thanks

Also aching left leg, is this down to diabetes or isi just cramp? slight twinge? having wet trousers etc?

 

[HLW]

Why have the nails gone? Why are you checking them multiple times a day? Why wouldn't washing them in the shower be OK? Make sure you dry them throughly, especially between the toes, how ever you wash them, and make you have properly fitting shoes.

Have you spoken to your GP (or even better, a diabetes specialist eg endocrinologist or diabetes nurse) about all your worries, eg that you are checking your feet multiple times a day? there are all these possible side effects from diabetes, but you don't need to be so worried. Get someone to explain the likely timescales for all these things, you do need to be aware but not so worried.

 

[Matthew1990]

I am worried about the circulation one of many complications of diabetes i'm concerned about, I say nails they've just snapped out, only 2 though, they'll grow back

I just get worried about all the complications of diabetes

 

[HLW]

Re: feet, check for broken skin when you wash them. Leave them alone otherwise. Go to the doctor if they get infected. Don't cut the nails too short or they will go ingrowing. Don't leave them too long or they will snap.

Your nails shouldn't fall off surely? Or do you mean they broke off after trauma eg you stubbed them?

You do not need to worry, it is stressful worrying too much. Go the the annual check up, and the eye screening. You can also get your eyes tested for free due to having diabetes I think, so you can have them looked at twice a year if you want (the optician might not be able to take the pictures of the retina, so cannot be anywhere near as thorough as the screening, but they can look at the retina to see any obvious damage.

Re: leg pain, it could be anything. Cramp can be agonising. Sitting in one position can cause all sorts of aches and pains. See if it persists. Don't worry about it.

 

[Matthew1990]

Thanks, would about other complications such a liver failure, stroke etc

Yeah i think i stubbed my toe, I'll keep an eye on them to see if they grow back well.

Ill keep active and hopefully the pain in the leg will goo

 

[HLW]

You do not need to worry about a stroke or liver failure at the age of 20 (you need to know the symptoms of a stroke though - everyone should incase they see someone have one).

You really would need to do serious damage to a toe to make the nail fall off I would think. I've know two people who broke their toes (one was a big toe so imagine the force needed for that), their nails did not fall off. Have you been to a doctor about this? Fungal infections can make the nails fall off too, best to get things like that checked out.

 

[Bluenosesol]

Hi Matthew, you dont say anything about your general health, bg levels etc. My personal goal as a diabetic (I am Type2) is to stay in the "safe zone". The beauty of doing that, is that once you have achieved it and are confident that you are maintaining it, then you can assume that complications are being held at arms length and you do not need to upset yourself by constantly worrying about them. I do regular blood tests and attend my 6 monthly and annual reviews and feel as "normal" as the next person. This may sound simplistic, but it has worked for me, I accept that it will not work for everyone, but we owe it to ourselves to do our best to understand our disease, seek expertise to maximise our treatment, change our lifestyles and choices to ensure best outcome and as the song goes "Dont Worry Be Happy"

All the Best - Steve

 

[Matthew1990]

I think the nail came off due to being to long, Ill speak to my diabetes nurse and she what she say's about it, i'm due a letter soon giving me a date for my annual review.

I only got diagnosed last month so at the moment, trying to find the consistency and a common trend of my sugar levels, i'm 20 and keep very active. I just worry alot which causes stress.

 

[moonstone]

Matthew, when I was diagnosed I had also been ill long enough to generate a fungal nail infection - half my nail just fell off in bed one night, it was the first I realised anything was up with them because they had dark nail polish on. I didn't take it off each time, just reapplied it every so often so I hadn't noticed it before.

It's taken almost 3yrs to get my nails infection-free again and as a girl I can tell you it's not been fun to have to cover up my feet all the time in the summer and not use nail polish.

To set my mind at rest I went for an appointment with the local foot clinic - my GP had all the details. He advised that the dry skin on my heels could crack and cause problems so keep them moisturised with aqueous cream (very cheap from the chemist), and to treat the nail infection with otc remedies. I also discovered (and have checked this with my diabetes team) that soaking the feet in white vinegar for 15mins a day for several weeks (about 6) will cure the infection. I have such a bad memory though that I always forgot to do it so if anyone needs a job lot of white vinegar I've got loads in my kitchen, will sell for reasonable prices :lol:

 

[Matthew1990]

Haha thanks moonstone.

What about circulation of the feet/toes? That is another worry of mine

 

[moonstone]

Well, yes, that's a worry of lots of diabetics I think. You're nowhere near losing your feet or toes though, don't panic! In all seriousness, you should treat any cut or blister aggressively (I don't mean shout at it). I got a blister last year and went into a tailspin - silly I know but I did - so I went to Boots and asked the pharmacist to tell me what to do. He got me to use Savlon cream on it and keep it covered so that it didn't dry out too much - he said it was best to keep it a bit moist - and to stop any other bacteria getting in. The thing about the feet is, over time, a diabetic's bad circulation can potentially make it hard for you to notice you've hurt your foot, hence the foot checking, plus your feet have more bacteria so you can potentially end up infected quite quickly and then of course bacteria feed off sugar, diabetics can heal slower, and an infection sends your sugars up, so there's potentially a bit of a vicious circle that can arise. You must be years and years and years away from any of that I reckon, if it happens at all.

HOWEVER - the good news is, if you keep yourself fit doing cardiovascular exercise, you get your feet checked yearly at your annual review (they'll use a tuning fork on you, tickle your feet and check the pulse to your feet), and if you keep your feet clean and moisturised then there isn't going to be a problem. Also you are much less likely to have any problems as a result of a cut etc if your sugars are well controlled and these days, diabetic footcare is insanely good at the right hospitals.

As for my blister, nothing happened, it went away as quickly as all the other blisters in my life went away, I kept my leg and felt a bit of a ninny about the tailspin in Boots but I bought expensive, soft, plush carpets to replace the floorboards that had nails sticking out of them so that I can peacefully and joyfully enjoy walking barefoot around my own home!! I'm a bit of a panicker like you but honestly, don't worry about it, just make sure if you do get a cut or something, don't leave it, do something about it.

 

[noblehead]

Matthew,

Always best to get your feet checked by a Podiatrist who will check your feet health and advise you on how to care for your feet. Usually diabetes clinics do have a Podiatrist on hand when you attend, and some GP practices also have visiting Podiatrists so you may be able to see one there, ring your practice up and book a appointment to be seen for your own peace of mind.

Nigel

 

[hanadr]

HLW
cutting toenails to avoid ingrowing varies from person to person
I have to cut mine short and clip down the side, which mostly would be a NO-NO, because mine grow oddly[always did] and tend to get ingrown. A podiatrist showed me what to do and from having a couple if ingrowers per year, I haven't had another. I always wear good shoes, so that's not a factor.
Hana

 

[head323]

hi yeah feet are one of the signs of diabetics have to watch out for cause if ure diabetes conrol is poor everything goes wrong like feet for example . nails will grow back just mite be a fungal infection and needs to be seen by a speacilst in feet

washing feet in shower is no good cause ure not getting in between the toes and use none perfumed soap .

ure right in getting a basin because u can wash tem throughly and make sure u dry tem to in between toes r important .

hope this is helpful
all the best

 

[Matthew1990]

Soo regular checking, cleaning of the feet in a basin, cleaning in between the toes and make sure they dry etc and just keep them clean and happy

 

[noblehead]

Soo regular checking, cleaning of the feet in a basin, cleaning in between the toes and make sure they dry etc and just keep them clean and happy

As well as a regular check-up by a Podiatrist!

Nigel

 

[HLW]

washing feet in shower is no good cause ure not getting in between the toes

Why does washing feet in a shower mean you're not washing between the toes? Surely you can wash between the toes in a shower just the same as in a sink (if you can balance on one leg or lean against a wall or bend down in a large shower or sit on a shower seat - I realise this is not possible for everyone, but I would have thought a 20 year old who does a lot of sport (the OP) could manage it).

 

[brianbatts]

I went to see a chiropodist for the first time last week,my foot care done by me is excellent being an ex infantry soldier,one of my big toe's nail was growing slightly inwards,so i made an appointment,the nurse who was male started to trim my nails with what looked like a secateurs,after he finished i thought they could have been cut a lot cleaner if i had used a 36 mills grenade,needles to say thats the first and flaming last time i will let a horse nurse near my feet.