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?

You’ll be ok OP - just take the meds and do what the podiatrist says. He’s not T1 diabetic given but my OH who plays cricket, v regularly loses his toe nail(s). Just typing that makes me feel queasy but honestly it doesn’t even hurt him after a while and he says it’s a relief.

Im T1 and had a toenail removed and killed off to not grow back in my early teens for a sporting injury that could happen to anyone which. Was confirmed it was completely not diabetes related and my treatment was no different to someone without T1. No issues from it nearly 25 years later and my recovery went as they would expect to see in an average teen. My A1C is not terrible by any account but it’s never been as good as yours. Losing a nail isn’t the start of a slippery slope to further problems if the issue is promptly treated. Fingers crossed you manage to get the infection under control quickly and honestly don’t stress about nails.

That said I do absolutely sympathise with your reaction to people who unhelpfully just pipe up with being diabetic you’ll get your foot chopped off. For most T1 I know trying to avoid complications is a daily source of low level background awareness and actually sometimes we just need the advice you’d give to anyone without the scaremongering.

For the I’m sure well meaning posters, an ‘I’d be going to A&E without diabetes, with swift treatment everyone has a better chance of a good prognosis and antibiotics can be given quickly once someone sees it, you don’t want to mess around with an infection’ is a lot less depressing than ‘get to hospital now or your leg will be hanging off by morning’. If you’ve not lived with T1 then maybe just think before you post.

I am certain that the safest thing to do is contact a dsn, email some close up images of your toe.

You may end up with a course of a topical anti- viral medication. Your bg control is good which is excellent.

I am also T1D, if I was in the same situation I would take my advice.

My friend was a T1 diabetic, she started with cellulitis in her foot, got antibiotics & anti inflammatory meds, took everything as she should & had to have her leg smputated from mid thigh down after being in hospital due to developing sepsis. A year later she started with it in her other foot & died after having her toes, foot & leg gradually amputated, she was only 55. Either ring 111 or get yourself to A & E ASAP before it's too late.

That’s a harsh post. Sorry for your friend but I’m just imagining OP read that.

OP o hope you get some good advice from the podiatrist. You're seeking help and you're getting help. Try to calm assess the situation and read the helpful
Comments that some PP have sent. You sought advice. This is good. You're being seen. This is good. You've got meds. You might need more but you're being seen. All good. Take care

Thank you to all the helpful posters, it really means a lot and I was reading this thread on way in to podiatrist.

Well, OMFG he anaesthetised my toe with 2 injections into the toe and then he cut out a triangular piece of nail. The injections were honestly the roughest part - once numb I didn't feel him poking at the sore bit.

I read on this thread that NHS podiatrists wouldn't touch it if infected so I did ask and he said no - I am young with great circulation and a great hba1c so the best thing to do is to cut out the bit of nail that was piercing into the flesh of the toe so my body can heal. Which made sense to me as nothing can heal with a foreign body in it, like a splinter in your finger etc.

My toe is still numb now about 2 hours after the local anaesthetic.

Would you go on a thread where somebody is distressed about an aspect of their cancer, and post the details of a friend who died of the same cancer after a long harrowing illness?

I bet you wouldn't. You just think it's ok to do that to somebody with diabetes.

Would you have gone and got antibiotics, actually taken them and made a podiatry problem without people giving reasons why it's so important to not ignore it?

Glad you managed to see the podiatrist and sounds like he has done the right thing. Hopefully combined with the antibiotics you'll be on the mend soon. Do try to keep your foot up as much as possible to minimise any swelling and ignore the drama llamas in this thread. You've identified the problem very quickly and got it treated effectively. You'll be fine!

My original post was wondering if it could wait 24 hours as it was after outpatient hours. Not that I was planning to ignore it completely.

You don't get to almost 30 years of type 1 diabetes, in reasonably ok shape, by ignoring things like that with your head in the sand. So I am not sure what you are trying to say here.

The post by nat6999 describes her friend who "took everything as she should" and yet still died after a grisly illness. Her friend sounds very conscientious.

Somebody in my shoes in real panic mode could actually read that story and think "fuck it what's the fucking point then" and put their head in the sand even more and let time tick by, as it is so frightening to think of that poor woman trying to do everything right and yet still having amputations and dying. Fear can cause an utter freeze response.

I repeat - would you go on a post where somebody is worrying about an aspect of their cancer, and post a story about your friend who has the same cancer and is doing all the treatment schedule and never missing a chemo etc - but still dies?

No, I doubt you would.

It is a shit thing to do to diabetics.

Sorry for frightening you, I just don't want anyone to go through what my friend did, a simple scratch on her foot was all that started things off for her. I miss her desperately, we had been friends since junior school, over 40 years of friendship.

Panicking a bit about when the anaesthetic wears off. Is it going to be really painful?

I have no idea how far down the triangular piece went, I mean I still have most of my nail left so does that mean it won't hurt as much as having the full nail removal?

I just really need sleep tonight and not to be tossing and turning in severe pain. Sleep is so important for healing anything.

The triangular removal is a common thing and sorts out the problem. If you think a particular pair of shoes caused it in the first place they belong in the dustbin I'm afraid.

I haven't worn any uncomfortable or tight shoes, no.

How are you doing @dodgytoe ?

@justasking111

Yes infection was pretty much gone by the next day. Thank you for thinking of me and my weird toe!

It didn't really hurt at all once the numbing wore off, I was amazed.

Being careful with it, but it is really quite a dramatic improvement. I guess the corner of the nail was causing the whole issue so now it's not there aggravating things.

I wouldn't have thought it possible for it to feel so much better after Tuesday but happily it does.

Glad to hear you are much improved @dodgytoe

If you're referring to my post, my friend with well controlled type 1 recently had her toes amputated after leaving it slightly too long to start the antibiotics following a scratch, I wanted to warn you not to take a chance, and I'm glad you were seen.
I'm sorry if you felt I'd posted to scare you as that was not my intention.

Funny how nobody is willing to admit they wouldn't try to scare cancer patients in the same way.

If somebody with cancer was posting, upset about dreading an upcoming procedure to get a port or scared about starting chemo, NOBODY would be sharing frightening anecdotes in an attempt to scare them into doing the right thing.

It's almost like they would be ashamed to scare a cancer patient, but see diabetics as fair game.

Thanks @RampantIvy

So pleased you got the help you needed from the right people.

and something I think is really important after taking my Nan to see her podiatrist a good few years ago.
’I’m a diabetic’ said Nan, and was soundly told she was not a diabetic, she was a person who happened to have diabetes.

I found this really important and it sounds like a lot of people who have commented here think you are a diabetic OP.
I think you are a person who happens to have a really awful thing you have to live with.

So glad your podiatrist was really helpful

I'm glad your foot was sorted bt the podiatrist

Doctors, governments and mediatell us all the time that if you eat the wrong foods and don't exercise you may get a heart attack.
They tell us that if we drink too much alcohol you damage your liver and if it fails you will die.

People with diabetes should be aware that having small amounts of damage to their feet can lead to poor outcomes if not treated quickly. Your first post was asking if you needed to be seen or if you should wait, had you said you were already on antibiotics and had a podiatry appointment booked then the replies would have been different. People who have seen friends and family face a worsening prognosis due to waiting for treatment, wanted to warn you so you didn't have to go through the same. That you got treatment mean you listened to the advice given and are healing.