Can mild cellulitis heal by itself? In a type 1 diabetic?

[dodgytoe]

Really unsure what to do. Around the top of my toe is very swollen, tight and shiny and it is so sore. I have a fucking fungal nail and just was assuming it was something to do with that, but now I am wondering if it is cellulitis because the fungal nail has never looked like this or hurt like this before?

I do have type 1 diabetes but usually heal quickly so not sure how to approach this. At the minute I don't think I can cope with a shoe touching the toe so not sure how I can get to a doctor.

Should I give it 24 hours? If it is cellulitis does it always need antibiotics or can it resolve?

@dodgytoe you're in hospital so your bp will elevate. You've managed diabetes for 30 years. This is an annoying blip. Antibiotics can have bleugh side effects. Speak to your doctor tomorrow about your concerns. Now go home and get some sleep 💐

As a T1 myself this doesn't seem sensible. To have not just gone to A&E immediately. Op seems overwhelmed. It's not good to be so anxious.

Unless you want to lose your toe/foot/leg then take this seriously. If there is no improvement with the antibiotics then get yourself back to your GP.

Unless you want to lose your toe/foot/leg then take this seriously.

That's really unhelpful but thank you for making me feel even worse, more panicky and more hopeless. I'm at a very low point right now and could really be doing without a worrying infection.

I understand that the main side effects with that antibiotic are gastrointestinal and you might not have any side effects at all. Hopefully, they bring the infection under control really quickly. I know things can seem to pile on all at once but you just have to deal with things one by one. You've sought medical help and treatment now. For what it's worth, I've had nail infections and so has my teenage son. (No, we don't do weird things to our nails!) We're not diabetic and antibiotic ointment has brought things under control for us in a few days. Oral antibiotics should be even more effective. You've done really well if this is the first time in decades that you've had an infection problem. Things are not hopeless and there is no reason to panic.

A BP reading of 123/84 is practically perfect (120/80) so although slightly high for you, it is nothing to worry about.

As already stated side effects from antibiotics are usually gastro intestinal. Can you get some probiotics to take with your meds?

I hope you feel better soon

I know you're upset, I know you're scared, but TAKE THE ANTIBIOTICS!

Typical ab side effects are upset tummy, feeling nauseous and maybe diarrhoea. These are the MUCH lesser of 2 evils right now. They are POSSIBLE side effects, not definite ones. It's far better to have a few days of upset tummy than have an infection spread, a million times moreso if you're diabetic.

I know you're feeling vulnerable and grotty, but you'd be very silly to not take them.

T1 is a very difficult condition to live with, I understand that My DM was a brittle T1 and I was her carer It is a constant balancing act and is always uppermost in your mind
As you also have retinopathy it's even more important so you need to take great care
The diabetes massively outweighs any side effects from short term antibiotics
I'm not sure which country you're in but if you're under a consult endocrinologist as you should be, they will arrange counselling for your health anxiety in general so please don't struggle

The toe actually feels better but now looks far worse?

It doesn't hurt to the touch anymore unless I specifically press the bad corner of the nail and the overall swelling has gone down a lot.

But the skin around the nail looks awful now, very pink, almost as if a top layer has been removed? And there are tiny papercuts in this area?

I wonder if the antibiotic ointment caused some other reaction but I'm seriously worried it is starting to ulcerate. I have zero experience of diabetic foot problems but the skin looks AWFUL.

The skin integrity looks like it is breaking down completely.

Thank you all for your support, I'm having a very difficult time with this.

I am trying to find a podiatrist to see this afternoon. I just can't deal with this.

Go back to the hospital.

I'm scared of everything to do with this. Most obviously losing the foot but even the idea of having the whole toenail removed this afternoon as I suspect will happen is making me cry.

I am a shit fucking patient I hate it all, I am just seriously burnt out of terrifying medical things and have no resilience left. And this sprang up so quickly.

I'm going to go somewhere different to the urgent care centre, there are podiatrists that specialise in diabetic foot problems so waiting on a call back from one of them right now.

You risk spreading the infection talking about toe nail removal just now. Trust the medical professionals

You need to ring 111, now, and get it sorted. Any foot problems can deteriorate quickly if you are diabetic.

It's horrid op but action now prevents things getting worse

Op, you need a hug. The medics can sort your foot out, stop thinking about worst case scenarios it doesn't help.

Am relieved that I confirmed an appointment with a podiatrist, so will see what he says and recommends.

Hugs. You're doing great. Take it one thing at a time. Eat bananas too - I find they are great at staving off any antibiotic-related gastro effects! I've had cellulitis (which is why I was so strident about the need to get seen in my earlier posts) and although it was really extensive, antibiotics got on top of it.

I get you're anxious but a podiatrist doesn't prescribe or deal with infection
The fungal toenail is a separate issue
PLEASE take and complete the cephalexin as prescribed

Take the antibiotics as prescribed, it's obviously working as it is feeling better. Your BP is practically perfect. Try not to panic,things often look a bit worse as they are healing. Obviously get seen again if it doesn't continue to get better.

T1 diabetic here also.
Please take the antibiotics. No podiatrist will see you with the slight chance of an infection. Get the infection cleared up, take the antibiotics, increase your insulin dose if you need to, follow the sick day rules, then get seen by the podiatrist.