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How can DH fix his feet? Warning pic included

46 replies

grossfeet · 13/05/2020 19:24

He's diabetic. It's just all cracked and gross

OP posts:
Highlights12 · 13/05/2020 20:21

@SquirrelFan Grin

SimonJT · 13/05/2020 20:21

Type 1 diabetic here, call GP/nurse at the surgery for advice, not worth risking a DIY job. He also has very long toenails which suggests he isn’t regularly inspecting his feet.

When was his last foot check?

pirateparker · 13/05/2020 20:30

That looks fungal, have had terbinafine for similar. Can you buy terbinafine online?

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 13/05/2020 20:30

Are his feet itchy ?
Are there any blisters?
Red under the dryness?
Between the toes are they dry ?Or is the skin mascerated with a red base ?

Hard to tell from the photo but the heel looks that mascerated wrinkly way skin goes when you've had your feet in water too long . Had he been soaking them before this photo?
Patients with diabetes tend not to sweat , it can affect the autonomic nerves (that's the ones that gives you goosebumps and make you perspire) as well as the pressure/sharp/blunt/light touch/hot/cold/ reflex sensations.

Flexitol or Dermatnics are excellent ( Dermatonics has the advantage of Once Daily but most people only apply Flexitol once , it's balm so it's heavy)

There's a foam "Alpressan Diabetic Foam Basic or Intensive" which is good , light weight but effective . It is unusual in that dressings/tape can be applied once it is dry and they will stick Grin

Fungal infections are hard to diagnose , it's more by symptoms and looking for skin signs . Sending off samples takes a while and you can get a false negitive .
Fungal infection can give rise to dry skin, often overlooked as 'just dry skin; and oddly , on one foot worse .

You most likely won't get a Podiatry appointment at the moment , but most GPs are doing phone consults in the meantime . Try and send a very clear close up photo
Fungal creams are usually a short intensive course and you see an improvement fairly quickly in skin. (Nails take bloody months !)

Standard advice about checking feet daily .
Wash/dry especially between toes
Change socks daily and alternate shoes
Blood glucose control is vital

Good Luck

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 13/05/2020 20:32

Diabetics need to be ultra careful, please get professional advice if you can. Hope it gets better soon

Itsjustmee · 13/05/2020 20:40

My father had saw his podiatrist 2 weeks ago and booked back in for his next appointment

So some are working It’s worth checking to see if any near you are working

Wellwhatalovelyday · 13/05/2020 20:55

Flexitol! Will sort it quickly.

grossfeet · 13/05/2020 21:05

To answer some questions

In Scotland; no yearly feet check here that we know of

He did show his diabetic nurse at yearly checkup and they didn't say much really

How do we know if it's fungal?

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grossfeet · 13/05/2020 21:05

He does wear socks when out but wfh at the moment

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grossfeet · 13/05/2020 21:06

No smells. No open wounds

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GreyishDays · 13/05/2020 21:08

My DH has similar and it was fungal. Better socks helped it not come back. Those with a higher cotton content.

Notthisnotthat · 13/05/2020 21:09

We are in Scotland, east coast. My dad has 6 monthly checks for his feet. He also sees his diabetic nurse 6 monthly too. He is well controlled and some people see the nurse more often.

HappyHammy · 13/05/2020 21:10

It looks like he has been soaking his feet in water. Has he done that.

grossfeet · 13/05/2020 21:19

Sorry missed a few
Posts there somehow, the thread didn't refresh properly

Really appreciate all the advice! When he showed them at hospital they were quite relaxed and said moisturise but it doesn't seem like a standard moisturise job. Will try the creams mentioned!

No scabs I don't think, dry between toes
He hadn't soaked prior to taking photo no

Also, his nails are also pretty gross. They are thick and he is just lazy cutting them. I think they are probably fungal. Although he's hurt his big toe playing sports twice and nail came come off so that doesn't help the appearance

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shuttheblinds · 13/05/2020 21:27

My DF has feet exactly the same and is diabetic too. I am always trying new foot cream and about 3 years ago my friend told me about Margaret Dabbs foot hygiene cream. Omg honestly it is better than any. Its a bit more pricey but lasts ages. It helps cracked, dry feet, nail health, athletes foot etc. They have also just brought a new one out a vegan one especially for cracked heels. I wont use anything else now and my DF uses it all the time. My DSM then got hooked too! I promise this would make such a difference for your DH.

Have a look on their website to buy it, and QVC also sell it and I think Look Fantastic.

madcatladyforever · 13/05/2020 21:28

I'm an NHS podiatrist and deal with diabetic feet everyday. It's very important to deal with dry skin and cracks if you are diabetic as they are perfect hot spots for bacteria to get in to and cause infections. Sepsis from a bacterial infection can finish you off within a few hours so feet are so important. Having did that they areally not horrendous. As others have said flexitol every single day for one month and they will be perfect. After a month he can probably do it every 2 to 3 days and get an NHS podiatry assessment even if it's a one off.

madcatladyforever · 13/05/2020 21:29

And Margaret dabs is great too.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 13/05/2020 21:30

It might just be the way he's sitting , the heel being on something pushing the skin up.
Do both feet look the same ?

Heels should be all plump and smooth ( it is common to lose fatty padding on the feet , the one place you don't want to lose weight Grin )

Get him some Flexitol or similar Urea 25% based cream (available OTC)
Apply on skin after bathing and rough drying so there's still slight moisture -urea helps skin absorb moisture . You should see a difference quickly.
If its itchy or flakey after that it could be fungal.

Tell him that no cream will work if its left in the bottle in the bathroom ( can you tell I;m a Podiatrist Grin I've heard it all )

"Do you put cream on your feet"
I've got some Flexitol
(Not the same)

Or
I rub lotion into my legs
(But it doesn't migrate to your feet)

HappyHammy · 13/05/2020 21:33

If you think his toenails are fungal too then he really needs a proper professional assessment.

grossfeet · 13/05/2020 21:46

Thanks all! Really appreciate it. Will defo get an assessment when we can too

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JonHammIsMyJamm · 14/05/2020 10:29

That’s interesting re Margaret Dabbs. I’ve seen it on beauty websites and assumed it was just another overpriced branded waste of money where you pay for the spa name and get very little in terms of result. Very interesting to hear that it is rated by professionals.

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