swollen foot and ankle/shin. Red and hot to touch.

[MrsKitty]

Went to docs yesterday about unrelated prob (night sweats) but also had a sore foot so asked him to check it out. He Said it was probably strained tendons. It got progressively altar through the day, and when i got home from work at 10pm it'd ballooned. Same this morning - swollen, red foot and shin and both hot to the touch. Do i need to go back? Or is is this normal for tendon problem? Ive not fone anything (that i'm aware of that would have caused a strain, which is why i'm not sure!

Aldo diagnosed T1 diabetes last year and DH is convinced my foot is going to fall PDF...

Hot to the touch is often an infection. Definitely go back asap.

Rubbish typos-on phone!

Thanks looney - have now got appt booked with nurse for later, was worried i was being silly

good, glad you're getting it looked at :)

Could well be cellulitis - if I were you I'd be heading for A&E or walk in clinic asap as infection with T1 can progress fast. DH had cellulitis in his leg a few years ago and it blew up like that and they were very concerned about it for a few days

I've seen Cellulitis from the smallest fissures between the toes, any break in the skin can cause infection.

If you have diabetes it can mask the true extent of the pain, even if your neurological testing they do at your yearly check up comes up normal.

I had cellulitis a couple of years ago after a split behind my little toe became infected. GP drew a line on my leg and said inflammation higher than this and you are admitted. Luckily avoided this but do not hang about. This is classed as urgent and you need to be seen today. Espec regarding your Diabetic status.

Thanks all - Saw Practice Nurse at the surgery at lunchtime. As soon as I took my tights off she said "Cellulitis". Am on monster anti-biotics and have a lovely black line of marker pen on my leg, with instructions that if it spreads an inch over the line to contact OOH over the weekend. .

Now at work, foot on a chair, bag of peas on foot, hoping my boss can get the night shift to come in early so I can go home.

Awful timing - DH is away on a stag weekend this weekend so will have to do my best to keep foot rested whilst still entertaining DS (5) and DD (2).

It really worries me that diabetes appears to be having such a negative effect on my general well-being so soon after diagnosis . I've honestly never been ill / prone to infection before, yet in the last month I've now had this, a sinus infection and a gum infection, and anti-b's each time.

Thank goodness you have been seen. Can you enlist the help of friends, neighbours, family? You really must rest that leg because the skin is extra fragile in cellulitis and you must be careful not to knock it.

Have you asked for referral to the foot care team? You know that cutting nails etc needs to be done very carefully and preferably by a podiatrist with specialist diabetes knowledge?

It often happens that after Dx, diabetes side effects flare up. A relation of mine is a specialist diabetic nurse and he says that people are diagnosed after they notice signs and symptoms that may have been brewing for quite some time.

From this he infers that the diabetic process has got well 'underway' and even after medication/stabilisation of glucose and lifestyle, it takes a while to see these problems go.

Have you had any viral infections-colds etc? They can have a sub chronic effect meaning your diabetes might flare up a few weeks after one. Also antibiotics in somebody who has not really taken them before can have an odd effect upon your immune system.

Finally, raised glucose levels in the blood and body tissues feeds bacterial growth. Therefore a small bacterial invasion from a cut or grazed gum will far more speedily multiply into levels high enough to cause an infection. Even your new control over your glucose takes time and you may be experiencing a period of adjustment.

You will always be more vulnerable to infection though and so please take care and if you do injure yourself, seek advice instead of slapping a plaster on it and leaving it.
Hope things improve for you soon.

Hurts. So. Much

Is the redness spreading ?

And are you resting with it up ? Anyone who could have the children for a bit ?

Yep, it spread. Called out of hours this afternoon. Now waiting to be admitted to hospital for IV antib's.

Rested it all day - elevated and iced. Kids were angels- did everything for me. In laws came over at tea time, will be there till tomorrow now.

Not my ideal way to spend such a gorgeous weekend, but hey ho. No point taking any risks.

Hope you're ok MrsKitty and that forgoing the weekend in hospital has done the trick. Get well soon

Still here... Being reviewed again tomorrow. Desperately Hoping to be out by weds lunchtime as DS has his first 'class assembly'.

Am making the most of a rare opportunity to lie in bed reading books .

Glad that they're looking after you & that you're making the most of it. I finished a pair of socks that I had been trying to knit for a year when I was in! Hopefully you will be out but it would be worth asking about short term release if you are still in on Wednesday.

Get well soon xxx