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Skin infection

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Proserpine

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Type 2
Hi there, I have been type 2 for 4 years. In the early days of taking metformin I lost about 20lbs, but the effect wore off and most of the weight went back on. I'm on 1500mg of metformin last HBA1c was 6.6 under old measuring system.
I've been able to largely forget that I have diabetes apart from taking my tablets and limiting sweets. The last few months I have had a persistent rash under my breast which the GP thinks is fungal (official name intertrigo). I've tried various anti fungal creams to no avail and am awaiting referral to a dermatologist. Husband says that diabetes means it takes longer to recover from infections. Anyone else had problems with fungal infections and managed to get rid of them? Advice greatly appreciated.
 
What are your blood glucose levels like day to day?

It shouldn't really take any longer to recover if your blood glucose is in range most of the time but can if your blood glucose is high or uncontrolled

You mention limiting sweets but do you limit carbs? as that all turns to glucose and affects your levels
xx
 
Thanks for your reply. I guess I thought I was OK as the GP said my diabetes was well controlled in my annual review. I was eating pizza and pasta but not every day. Today I did a finger prick test and I was 7.2 in the morning, so will try to reduce the carbs.
 
if you spend the majority of the time in range then you can still have a relatively normal hba1c but if your not testing daily you wont be aware of what is spiking your levels and just how high those spikes may be, ideally post meal you are looking for no more than a 2-3mmol rise, pizza can cause a delayed and prolonged spike also due to the fat content, you could do a food and test diary for a week or 2 to see what's happening throughout the day and possibly look at reducing the things that spike you, they may not have to be eliminated completely but just a reduced portion size, so the things you may have problems with are the starchy carbs like bread. pizza, rice, pasta, potatoes, breakfast cereal/oats etc xx
 
Can you wear a different type of bra (material) or go braless, as any friction might make things worse. Make sure things are nice and airy in the affected area as well. Hope you feel better soon.
 
Kaylz said:
if you spend the majority of the time in range then you can still have a relatively normal hba1c but if your not testing daily you wont be aware of what is spiking your levels and just how high those spikes may be, ideally post meal you are looking for no more than a 2-3mmol rise, pizza can cause a delayed and prolonged spike also due to the fat content, you could do a food and test diary for a week or 2 to see what's happening throughout the day and possibly look at reducing the things that spike you, they may not have to be eliminated completely but just a reduced portion size, so the things you may have problems with are the starchy carbs like bread. pizza, rice, pasta, potatoes, breakfast cereal/oats etc xx
Click to expand...
 
Thanks again for advice. I have done some testing 2 hours after eating and it's been mainly OK. According to my GP only the Hba1c is to be relied upon but I know this is probably the NHS not wanting to spend money on giving out testing kits.
 
Thanks Sue, I think Bras cause sweat and make problem worse. I am heavy breasted but am trying to get by without one. Hope no one notices
 
I have had this on and off in the past, usually at its worst in hot weather.
Found creams little help, but Lanacane medicated talc-free powder kept it under control. I think this has been discontinued, but Medipure powder seems to be similar, available from Amazon.
 
Thanks Silent Squirrel, the rash started in late summer and I still have it. I've been using talcum powder in the last few weeks but will look into the Medipure powder.
 
Not wearing a bra might be not the thing to do - thought I have been wearing sports bras or tops for a while as I am allergic to some man made fibres and it was becoming more and more difficult - and expensive to find bras I could wear. The sports tops are man made fibre, but I don't react to it. The important thing is not to be folded over skin to skin, damp and enclosed is a bad situation for skin.
If your problem is fungus, try using foot powder intended for athletes foot. I mixed it half and half with baby powder during very hot summers back in previous decades.
Washing clothes at low temperatures might also be part of the problem - some cotton tee shirts which can be washed at 60 degrees or higher, rather than 30 or 40 degree limits could help alter the skin microbiome.
I can't see the logic in your doctors statement that only the Hba1c level is important - it is an average - but the average of 49 and 51 is 50 - but the average of 30 and 70 is also 50 - so you could have very little variation or wild swings - with no way to tell.
I got a Tee2 meter from Spirit Healthcare recently, and it seems to work well - and more importantly it is cheap to use it as the strips aren't expensive. I'd certainly chose that or a similarly low priced meter if I need to be doing several tests a day.
I'd be wary of eating such high carb foods as pizza and pasta, even if you have not seen spikes - I found that some high carb foods raised my levels for long periods, right through to next day in some cases. Not good at all. There is 'fat head' pizza dough, and I tend to use coarse chopped cauliflower rather than pasta or rice, for a low carb option.
 
As well as the 'athlete's foot' powder I'd try the following.

You can buy melanin 'dry' dressings over the counter at decent pharmacies, come in various sizes - insert one large enough to cover as much of your 'underboob' as possible - they come in a sealed pack of 5 from memory. Insert the top half of the square into your bra cup with the rest hanging out below to prevent the bottom of your bra touching that part of your skin at all, until it has completely gone. New dressing(s) every day.

Then - chuck ALL your bras out and replace em cos the fungus will live forever within the material and you'll never be rid of it, since they can't be washed at a high enough temperature to eliminate it.

It's expensive even with a 34B - but sometimes necessary. (Mine was a bacterial infection following having some warty things surgically removed and it all wept, stank and was bright red all around there, so I had antibiotics too It still took a month to sort itself out)
 
I’ve had this problem a few times myself and each time have had to resort to steroid cream to clear it up. I am also fairly large breasted, not as much as I used to be, but because of work I have to wear a bra during the day, it used to drive me insane. Have you been given any steroid cream?
 
Trimovate or Timodibe cream works pretty well, my mums is just due to being heavy chested and sweating but they clear it up xx
 
The only thing I can suggest, is make your new bras or built in support vest, mostly cotton, M&S do a 100% cotton vest with built in support, although it doesn't give a lot of lift support it may suit. Sainsbury's do cheap cotton bras too.
 
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