Fingernail Separation - Nail Problems Message Board

Nancy321 · 09-25-2008, 04:52 AM

I was diagnosed with diabetes 2 years ago. Just prior to that (about 6 months) I asked my doctor why my thumbnail was separating from the nailbed. He asked me the normal questions, if I had banged it etc... then told me that because it was not discolored it did not look like a fungus or any type of infection to wait a while to see if cleared up. After a little research of my own I found that it could be a vitamin deficiency. Based on my bloodwork report, I found that I was lacking vitamin A & E. So I began taking that faithfully. After about 3 months I noticed that it was helping. Now after about 1 year I have noticed that 3 more nails have started separating along with the first one that had begun to look normal. I believe this is due to my diabetes and I must be lacking something else now. Oh, and I have just noticed that a couple of toenails have also begun to separate as well.
Any suggestions or advice?

Ps. I am not on any medication other than my insulin (Lantus/Humalog) taking only once a day.

Marti · 09-25-2008, 05:58 AM

Diabetes pays havoc with the body and since the nails are part of the body, they can also be effected. Is the nail plate where it is separated a very white color? Is the 'smile' line going straight across or is it turning into a 'frown' line? If so, it may be casued by a yeast (Candida) infection which is actually a fungus, but is not characterized by nail plate yellowing, thickening or apparent debris in the area of separation. Please see your dermatologist for the nail problem as it may not actually be related to the diabetes, but to an elevated amount of yeast in your system. If so, there are oral medications you can take for this as well as topical (Naftin).

Nancy321 · 09-25-2008, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marti

Diabetes pays havoc with the body and since the nails are part of the body, they can also be effected. Is the nail plate where it is separated a very white color? Is the 'smile' line going straight across or is it turning into a 'frown' line? If so, it may be casued by a yeast (Candida) infection which is actually a fungus, but is not characterized by nail plate yellowing, thickening or apparent debris in the area of separation. Please see your dermatologist for the nail problem as it may not actually be related to the diabetes, but to an elevated amount of yeast in your system. If so, there are oral medications you can take for this as well as topical (Naftin).

Thank you for your quick response. The nail plate where separated is normal in color. The 'smile' line is 'frown' line where separation occured. Separation is not actually in center the of nail. Looks like it started at the side of the nail and separating to center.
How do they test for that since there is nothing in the nail? Seems to be very clean and normal in color..just separating.

Marti · 09-25-2008, 06:27 AM

The dermatologist should be able to recognize it as a yeast infection, although they can still take a scraping and grow a culture. It sounds like a Candida infection to me, but only your dermatologist will be able to properly diagnosis the problem. A higher level of yeast in the body could be a side effect of diabetes, but I am only guessing. Sounds suspicious to me since it is occurring on your fingernails as well as toenails.

Nancy321 · 09-25-2008, 06:30 AM

Thank you, I will have it checked out.