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Restrictions - What Diabetics Can And Can't Do ...

callieuk

Well-Known Member
Messages
78
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Bit of an odd one this and some of these activities I've been doing for a while quite happily but a couple of different people /things I've read have given me warnings about.

Foot spas - I have used a foot spa for years, I wear cheap shoes and get sweaty feet, so it's pretty much essential for me (and those around me ) after a long day at work! I also go barefoot 90% of the time at home. I've been told to stop both as it's not good for me but no one can say why!

Hottub/jacuzzi - again I've been warned off but no one gives me a reason why! I have no nerve damage, but I do have fibromyalgia and the sports club jacuzzi is a godsend after exercise.

Waxing - a colleague looked at me in horror when I was planning to get my legs waxed prior to going on holiday in a couple of weeks and properly chastised me for it. It's a couple of years since I have but I used to go regularly with no consequences. I am diagnosed now and on Gliclazide but again no reason why, just that it's a risk and that the beautician would want a letter from the doc. TMI maybe but I do home wax on my face so should I stop?

Should I stop, I feel conflicted now

Cal
 
Diabetes increases the risk from any cuts / blisters or other open wound on the feet. Impaired healing, compromised circulation in the extremities and reduced sensation due to neuropathy are all risk factors that can cause minor cuts etc to become ulcers that are harder to heal. Most lower limb / toe amputations in diabetics start with minor injuries to the feet or legs.
For these reasons diabetics are advised not to walk around barefoot, particularly outside of home when there might be more chance of debris on the floor, not to wear ill fitting shoes, not to wear sandles with toe posts, to check feet regularly for any signs of cuts / blisters etc. A pain in the derrier but important too

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/complications/feet
 
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"
WAXING
When it comes to waxing, the main issue with diabetes is the potential for reduced wound healing ability, which can mean the client is more susceptible to infection; any injury to the skin caused by waxing is therefore a concern. Those clients with vascular damage and/or neuropathy are at particular risk, so a full consultation is vital.

With the proper care and precautions (which we treat all our clients with): low temperature wax that is temp-tested, a gentle wax suitable for sensitive skin, great care in supporting the skin properly during the treatment, and ensuring proper aftercare is adhered to then it is likely that waxing is fine to proceed with.

Check out our other treatments too, facials, manicures, spray tans many of which can be adapted if need be or more often they are absolutely fine for someone with diabetes to enjoy too, so why not give yourself a treat?"

http://www.dizzy.org.uk/beauty.html
 
I don't know about the hot tub one, but all the others have to do with loss of feeling in the feet due to neuropathy and slower wound healing due to high bg. Slower wound healing increases the risk of infection, infection gives you higher bg, higher bg makes it even more difficult to heal from infection which may cause amputation.
I don't suffer from neuropathy and I have non-diabetic bg, so I would do everything you do (except for the waxing-eek!), but that's not recommended.
 
In my view a lot of these warning are unnecessary. If your diabetes is well-controlled then effectively you can do anything a normal person can do. The risk of infection is no higher if your blood sugar is in the normal range. A lot of the warnings stem from those who have high sugars and at risk. Also those who have had high sugars and now have neuropathy must take care. I've seen warning signs for diabetics for almost every activity to the point of absurdity; I now ignore them.
 
Hottub is due to blood pressure. It raises blood pressure so if anyone not treated properly or prone to higher blood pressure Jacuzzis aren't recommended.
I guess that's we diabetics.
 
I have normal blood sugars and a non diabetic HbA1c, I had major surgery on my foot in December (a joint cut out and fused with screws), the consultant said with my blood sugar levels, good circulation and no neuropathy I would heal the same as a non diabetic..... and I did Even so I am careful, I check my feet every night and moisturise them after every shower. I have used jacuzzis and foot spas, I walk around my house barefoot but have never been brave enough for a waxing!
 
I've used a jacuzzi on holidays in the past, in good hotels. They will have raised my blood pressure as well as the alcohol and overeating.
It was a treat but not recommended weekly.
I feel at your own risk as of using a foot spa when not aware of any neuropathy.

Yes they are valid warnings and I'd prefer those warnings there than not there.

Use at your own risk but only once you have the full facts.
Neuropathy wouldn't tell your brain that water is too hot. Scalding and blisters are only the most painful after they burst, by which time it's too late. Long long recovery of that skin puts infection a risk, every moment.
Why risk that? When you don't have to.
 
Of course all these warnings may or may not apply to any particular diabetic. but they are not only there for the person who has diabetes they are also meant to guide practitioners and those people who carry out the various treatments so even if we feel them to be unnecessary it's not always down to us as diabetics, but also the practitioner has to feel comfortable carrying them out so it's often down to what they will do and what they require to safeguard themselves as well.
 
In some people, hot tubs (including hot baths and showers) lowerrr their blood glucose. Forr those taking blood glucose lowering drugs, that has the potential to get a bit tricky.

I haven't noticed anything myself, although I have never taken blood glucose lowering drugs.

I go barefoot at home and when away. Shortly after diagnosis, I managed to impale my foot, when I jumped down a step, onto a rusty nail. Not my finest hour, but I just made it bleed lots (didn't need much help, to be honest), washed it well in the sea and cursed. My healing was as normal, although I'd prrefer not to rerun that "experiment".

I also have my legs waxed and have never experienced any issues.

Clearly, @callieuk , it makes sense to evaluate your risk, before doing anything, and not be foolhardy, but if your control is OK, and you don't have complications with impaired healing or lack of sensation, it's really up to you.
 
Thanks everyone, wonderfully informative as ever . I may invest in some shoes round the garden but we're quite good in the house for me to be barefoot. Due to the fibro, I am really aware of my legs for feeling as when it flares I do suffer with always feeling cold/hot sensations, the foot spa has a temp gauge so I feel safe with that. Might have to reassess the health club spa now though as on bg lowering gliclazide but it is something I can live without, as is the waxing in all likelihood, I'm only away a week so a great I can live without in all honesty.

Feeling a bit miffed though lol
 
My DN was horrified when she spotted a fresh tattoo on my lower leg But it healed faster than one on my wrist, but then I’m quite awkward...
 
Antje77 said:
I always thought I was just a bit dirty, but it turns out I'm actually taking good care of my diabetes by showering only twice a week
Click to expand...

No wonder your dogs love sleeping with you.
 
callieuk said:
I also go barefoot 90% of the time at home. I've been told to stop both as it's not good for me but no one can say why!
Click to expand...

I was told to always wear shoes at home, because it's important to avoid accidental cuts from things I may stand on as they are more likely to get infected if my blood sugar is high, and also I may be less aware of cuts due to less sensitive feet.

But I think it's more important to understand the reasoning behind the advice, rather than just follow the advice.

In my case, I am prone to athletes foot which can cause cracks in the skin, so I continue to go barefoot / socks-only in the house as that has prevented me getting athletes foot for years, and I think it makes even more sense to carry on doing that now that I have T2, and currently no issues with lack of foot sensitivity.
 
I think that in all of these cases the phrase "uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes" should be added to the warnings. For those with "normalised" HbA1c results then what's the problem? I walk around barefoot at home all the time. I have no neuropathy in my feet and can tell if I cut my foot so what's the problem? I use
sauna, steam baths and swimming pools (when I can be bothered) with no problem too. If your blood sugars are running high and you have neuropathy then maybe some of these things should be a cause for concern but for those without problems in what way are we different from the general population?
 
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I think my rampant athletes foot (which I have had from childhood) may have been an indicator of Type 2. It has certainly calmed down a huge amount since I got my bloods under control and my feet are a whole lot less stinky than they were.
 
The other potential issue with health club jaccuzis etc relates to infection
Many years ago I joined a newly opened branch of a well known health club chain and very much enjoyed lazing in the jaccuzi until I got a foul ear infection which it turned out was caused by the jaccuzi Being kept at the wrong temperature and inadequatly dosed up with chemicals - I was not alone and it caused something of a stink locally
 
Same could be said about swimming pools thou. I refuse to avoid swimming. Even grit in bottom of pool would give any cut an infection with inadequate chemicals.
They don't have warnings in pools because very very few infections, blood pressure raising or burns can take place.
 

You could approach the spa with care and do lots of testing - every x minutes, say, and amke a pact with yourself if your numbers go low, you get out pronto.

Provided you are with someone else, they can keep a real hawk eye on you - at least unil you know how it usually affects your numbers.
 
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