• Guest, the forum is undergoing some upgrades and so the usual themes will be unavailable for a few days. In the meantime, you can use the forum like normal. We'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Gunge on lips

R

rara

Newbie
Hi, I have had type 2 for 6 years and am on metformin (4 tablets per day). My question is that some mornings, especially if I have had "sweet" things the previous evening, I find that my lips feel very dry, but more importantly, I find my lips are full of gunge. When I wipe my lips on a tissue it doesn't look pleasant....could someone please explain. Should I keep off "sweet" things ? Thanks. Rara
 
I dunno about the metformin causing a gungy mouth, but I would certainly recommend you lay off the 'sweet' things because they are bound to he high in carbs.
 
In the first instance, just check it isn't Oral Thrush (Candida Albicans), people with diabetes are far more susceptible to such infection - check that you don't have yellow or cream coloured spots on the inside of your mouth, and that your mouth is generally not sore - oral thrush can produce a discharge similar to the description you gave. If it is thrush, it's very easily treated.

I would be good to have a quick review of your dental health.

The dry mouth will have a lot to do with you kidney's needing to have got rid of excess sugar in the urine and causing you to be dehydrated. Are your levels high, do you check them? (not always the case with T2).

It would be an idea generally to keep off processed sweet things for definate (says I :roll: ) and limit the amount of naturally sweet - just because of diabetes.

Hope this helps - Bix
 
Ta Hobs & Biks for your comments. I have been to the dentist recently - no problems. Must keep away from sweeties. Will make an appt with Doc. I'll let you know the outcome. Have a super evening. Rara :wink:
 
Bix

I would like to take issue with your comment "thrush is easily treated". I have had oral thrush now for 2 years and nothing will shift it. If you know how to shift it then I would vevy much like to know how. I have never had it before and do not have it anywhere else. It appeared following a very high dose Penicillin V for very bad throat, I have been diabetic for 5 years and am 58.

Jude
 
I got rid some time ago by following a new dentist's simple instructions of dipping my lightly toothpaste covered brush with bicarbonate of soda and cleaning 40mins after every meal ...so for me that is three times daily and it has never returned. It does take some getting used to as it is a tad caustic feeling, but it sure did work for me. I was told to leave 40mins after eating as apparently tooth enamel can become vulnerable immediately after eating. Another effect of the soda is whiter teeth too :D
 
Oh, at first I understood clean during 40 minutes three times a day and I wondered how you could put up with that. Then all became clearer :lol:
 
Jude said:
Bix

I would like to take issue with your comment "thrush is easily treated". I have had oral thrush now for 2 years and nothing will shift it. If you know how to shift it then I would vevy much like to know how. I have never had it before and do not have it anywhere else. It appeared following a very high dose Penicillin V for very bad throat, I have been diabetic for 5 years and am 58.

Jude
Click to expand...

Hi Jude

I've been elsewhere (sorry). What sort of things have you tried to get rid of the thrush?

Oral thrush is caused by yeast which naturally lives in your body, the type of antibiotic is chosen to kill the organisms that are sensitive them (i.e the chest infection), but they also destroy some of the organisms in the mouth that will keep yeast proliferation at bay. Other reasons for it continuing to come back are an iron or folate deficiancy, if you are on steroids or using inhalers, overuse of medicated mouthwashes or even the wearing of dentures (seriously I'm not saying you have them). The normal treatment is Fluconazole - but this only kills the thrush infection but doesn't prevent it from reoccuring.

The solution is to get the body into balance, which is of course very very difficult for us peeps with diabetes and candida is always lurking - the best way is have good control of blood sugars.

If your blood sugars are in control and you are still having this problem, it might be worth contacting your GP and asking for the areas affected to be swabed to ensure that it is Candida Albicans.

Take Care - Barry x
 
I'm going crazy with thrush on my Penis......diagnosed T2 one month ago and on 2 x Metformin daily; BG down from 15 to 6.5 - and thrush only started appearing 10 days ago - cream prescribed doesnt seem to be easing it either... any advice or comments as to why this has appeared ? - since my BG has reduced and wasn't there prior to diagnosis T2 ? thanks
 
Back
Top