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strange myths about diabetes

Zhnyaka

Well-Known Member
Messages
845
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
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Homophobia, racism, sexism
I just read this https://www.diabetes.co.uk/blog/2020/11/11-myths-people-with-diabetes-are-sick-of-hearing/ I've heard all the myths except that we can't cut our toenails. Where did this belief come from? How diabetes can prevent us from cutting our toenails at all?!
By the way, I didn't see any comments under that post. It's a pity, because I would be happy to read about what nonsense we had to hear (I was once told that onions can cure t1 )
 
The theory behind not cutting your toe nails is based, I think, around the fact that some diabetics have loss of sensation in their feet, so may cut themselves without noticing. Also if they do cut themselves and have high blood sugars, infection may set in.
 
I have always cut my toenails! As recently as 10 years ago I was admonished for not visiting a podiatrist to have them cut because they said I might not notice I had cut my toe. Considering I never failed the sensitivity test I thought this was very unlikely!
 
Makes perfect sense, I suppose

But @Grant_Vicat makes a good point

I always cut mine, too

Do spend the time most weeks checking for full sensations in my foot, so I feel safe doing so too.
 
I always thought it is preferred to have them cut professionally, to prevent ingrowing toenails, and not to damage the fleshy side nail bits?
 
I can imagine the length of the queue to your orthopedist if all diabetics decide that he should cut their nails
 
although I had a wound on my leg that didn't heal for more than a year... absolutely a small wound that should have healed in a week... but I had to use wound healing and decontamination and bandage it...
 
Zhnyaka said:
Based on this logic, we can't cook soup ourselves, because we can cut ourselves cutting vegetables
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I think the logic is that we won't be cutting vegetables if we can't feel our fingers properly. We notice our hands more, whereas something on our foot is less noticeable, especially if we can't feel it. Hence the importance of foot inspection.
 
lucylocket61 said:
I think the logic is that we won't be cutting vegetables if we can't feel our fingers properly. We notice our hands more, whereas something on our foot is less noticeable, especially if we can't feel it. Hence the importance of foot inspection.
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it's clear that the examination of the feet is important and that we use creams for micro-cracks, it's just interesting that someone concluded from this that we can't cut our toenails. At first I didn't even understand where this belief came from, because we damage our body every day with injections and blood tests, often God knows in which places we have to do injections
 
The is a somewhat more logic to it I think. As far as I know nerve damage due to diabetes happens first(sooner) in your feet. Also vascular damage happens first in the legs/feet. The nerve damage can cause you to not notice that you have cut/wounded yourself and the diminished circulation combined with high bs can cause infections to occur sooner and makes it harder for them to heal with all possible risks involved.

Having said that. My mother had a special podiatrist for years, I never saw so much wounds/blood on feet as when she had been around. So even when you have less feeling in your feet you might be better of doing it yourself...
 
I was under the impression that the podiatrist advice around not cutting our own toenails was for those with issues with reaching and/or seeing, so someone else can check feet for damage regularly. I have never been offered a podiatry appointment or told to not cut my own toenails in 10+ years
 
Some of this might be to dowith thee assumption that people with diabetes are often over weight and can't bend or reach to see or reach their own feet, let alone the underneath.

In my weekly yoga class I always check I can still my own soles, and am quite relieved when I can. Long may it continue
 
EBe66 said:
I never saw so much wounds/blood on feet as when she had been around.
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To be honest, it's a little scary. Of course, my wounds heal slower than a person without diabetes, but so far everything is quite good...
 

Hi,

That “old chestnut.” I’ve been hearing it for probably 46 years.? Kinda like an “urban myth?”
Maybe something behind it, like a self inflicted wound that never healed?

I was playing about with a long bayonet (from WW1? Pretty blunt bit of steel.) as a kid (doing the “Ben Kanobi”.) went through my foot..
I still have it. The antique is long gone, I mean my foot.
Lol, when I was a kid, folk also thought I needed to eat all the time too..
 
Jaylee said:
The “force is strong with this one..” Yep, it was probably 44 years ago in “a galaxy far far away……….”
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Oooh, & then there was this with an angle grinder 4 years ago..? I don’t feel I heal too badly…


 
Jaylee said:
Oooh, & then there was this with an angle grinder 4 years ago..? I don’t feel I heal too badly…


View attachment 56223View attachment 56224
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It looks scary! I cut myself when I was shaving my leg and the wound itched a lot, so I combed the it even harder and wound couldn't heal for a very long time, about 14 months, I guess. Haha, since then I practically don't shave my legs, confirming stereotypes about feminists
 
I cut my own toenails, and I've never been advised not to. Although I have been told that I can get them done if I want.

Thinking about my feet, I guess I subconsciously look after them, I don't wander around bare foot, when in the river or sea I'll wear rubber soled shoes. I treat cracked heels with Heel Balm.
 
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