Hi Everyone,

My mother who is 76, had diabetes. She only takes pills for it. One in the am and one in the pm. But she is supposed to be taking other meds for Cholesterol, High blood pressure and something to do with her kidneys.

She basically has uncontrolled diabetes, because she does not care, and does not like to go to the dr. So, my main questions are about feet care and symptoms and problems.

My mom gets sores on her feet, from time to time. She treats them with some type of ointment. She wears socks most of the time. But, I have a feeling that her shoes are too tight. She buys them on sale and does not always buy the correct size.

When she goes to the family dr., they are supposed to check her feet, but do not always. Plus she goes there as little as possible!

What kind of sores are dangerous to diabetics? Are there any other symptoms that I could see/notice, without her taking off her shoes? I can and will ask her to show me her feet and sore on her one foot, but she does not like me butting into her business.

Please help with any advice or stories you have. Thanks.

Wannabe

Hi Everyone,

My mother who is 76, had diabetes. She only takes pills for it. One in the am and one in the pm. But she is supposed to be taking other meds for Cholesterol, High blood pressure and something to do with her kidneys.

Please help with any advice or stories you have. Thanks.

Wannabe

It will be your business when she has her foot amputated. She needs to wash her feet everyday, look at them and make sure there are no sores at all. If her diabetes is out of control, she will start losing the feeling in her feet. She could step on something and not even know it.

Here are some of the symptoms of high blood sugar:

Dry mouth
Thirst
Frequent urination
Urination during the night
Blurry vision
Fatigue or drowsiness
Weight loss
Increased appetite
Difficulty breathing
Dizziness when you stand up
Rapid weight loss
Increased drowsiness and/or confusion
Unconsciousness or coma

You may not be able to see any outward signs that her BG is too high. You can look at her feet and tell her it's because you care, not that you are butting into her biz. : )

Hope she's ok, it's nothing to mess around with.

The previous post pretty well cover it. I would only add that ANY injury to the feet is dangerous. It is not the type of injury but the inability of the feet to heal. Circulation is greatly impared. Especially with uncontrolled blood sugars. What Shesgg said about it being your problem too is so true. We are not in this life alone and our families suffer in their own ways when we don't take care of ourselves. All the things you listed that she is being treated for are complications of diabetes. If anyone can come up with a way to get through to people who don't want to take care of themselves they would have solved one of the biggest problems in diabetes - the patients self destructive attitudes.... hang in there.

Your feet are the first thing to go. I lost my right leg, BKA (below the knee amputation) after 33 years of type I. You really have to watch for any soars and dry skin between the toes. Look for loss of feeling in the bottems of the feet. The cholesterol meds are very important. I didn't have soars on my feet, I had periphrial artery disease in my legs. I found it hard to stand for a long time for months before any big problems. Cholesterol meds help keep the arteries clear and it's been proven that diabetics that take statins, lipitor, live longer. Please try to get a look at her feet on a regular basis not only for her but for you too. I know how terrible it is to loose a leg and she doesn't want to do it. Good luck to both of you. Jeff

Thanks everyone,

I appreciate your help and advice. I have heard that diabetics feet are never supposed to have sores on them. She know that too. But, she does not tell anyone, till the sore gets worse. Can a sore or an injury to your foot or toe, get worse fast? Like in a few days? She comes home on Thur., so I will check out her feet then. I just need to make myselft do it nicely and caring. I have to watch myself, or I will yell at her, for not taking care of herself!!!

I hope that it is going away and she is still treating her sore on her foot while she is gone!

Thanks again.

Wannabe