A warm 'hello' to all of you from me

[eisoj14]

I'm getting broken skin on a regular basis between the same toes on each foot. At first I didn't think anything much of it as it has never happened to me before, and by the time I saw a nurse, it looked bad. I took penicillan and had a dressing put on it. But the same thing happened on the other foot. I was told that a toe separator might help, but I don't want to push the other toes together by wearing something bulky, so I thought a little sock with cotton toe separators on all toes might be the answer? Or not? What do you suggest please?

 

[rebrascora]

Hi Josie(?) and welcome.

Sorry to hear you are having problems with your feet.

Can you tell us a bit about your diabetes as that might relate to the foot problems you are having... Ie
How long have you been diagnosed?
What was your latest HbA1c result?
Are you on any medication for your diabetes?

Good foot care is crucial to diabetics so that we prevent or detect infections before they get too bad. Prevention is obviously best. Washing feet daily is recommended and moisturising but it is generally advised not to moisturise between the toes. That said, I use a product called Margaret Dabbs Foot Hygiene Cream.... which is actually a hard waxy oil and contains emu oil and tea-tree extract as well as salicylates, which help to prevent fungal and bacterial infection. I have extremely dry skin and have tried everything over the years including Flexitol which is recommended and prescribed by podiatrists but I find the Margaret Dabbs superior to everything for keeping my feet right. It is expensive to buy (about £25 for a large 150g pot if I shop around on ebay) but usually lasts me a whole year and well worth every penny. I have tubes of Flexitol untouched since I discovered this stuff 5 or so years ago. It is probably the only luxury product I ever buy but I have suffered with sore feet for most of my life and this stuff relieves me of the pain and keeps them soft and supple and healthy. I live in wellies half the year and I am out in the cold and wet a lot so having feet free of pain from cracks is hugely important to me.

Plenty of people here on the forum use flexitol or other moisturisers but none are recommended for use between the toes which is clearly where you have the problem. I have no hesitation in using my cream between my toes because it contains ingredients which will fight or at least inhibit fungal and bacterial infections, which is generally the reason for not moisturising those area.... because it easily gets sweaty and bacteria can breed rapidly.

Managing your Blood Glucose levels well will help to prevent infections from developing or being stubborn to heal which is why your diabetes diagnosis details and management are important questions to ask first.

 

[Ralph-YK]

I was given advice (as a diabetic) about washing feet and about drying technigues. I don't remember the details now. (It was several years ago.) However, it was about carefully drying the feet. Particularly between the toes, to avoid causing damage.

 

[Inka]

Welcome @eisoj14 🙂

Did the nurse give you any idea what had caused it? Is it athletes’ foot (which can look like injured, broken skin), or a neighbouring toenail rubbing against the next toe as you walk? Or your shoes? Etc.

There are various inserts for shoes but I think I’d take the advice of a specialist due to the diabetes.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @eisoj14

Sorry to hear you are having trouble with your tootsies.

People with diabetes do need to be extra careful with our feet, so it’s good that you’ve have it checked by your nurse.

Hope the penicillin has worked well. Do go back to your nurse for advice if you are unclear about how best to care for your feet going forward. They may refer you on to the podiatry service if you need extra help.

 

[eisoj14]

Thank you so much. The problem has occurred between the second and third toe in from small toe side. The toes touch and I think one has rubbed against the other on each side. I thought a 'toe separator' of some sort might help and wondered if any of you have had these and could suggest the best - - - or perhaps I should go to a chiropodist/podiatrist to get some advice. For someone who has never had this happen before in my life, it has come as a shock because when it happened to my father, at my age, it turned gangarous and he lost his toe, and deep into his foot, so I know it's important.

 

[trophywench]

Have you still got proper feeling in all your toes?

 

[grovesy]

The socks you are describing do they have individual slots for the toes? It so do they have seams ? I have found in the past when wearing socks sometimes seams can be a problem?

 

[eisoj14]

Welcome @eisoj14 🙂

Did the nurse give you any idea what had caused it? Is it athletes’ foot (which can look like injured, broken skin), or a neighbouring toenail rubbing against the next toe as you walk? Or your shoes? Etc.

There are various inserts for shoes but I think I’d take the advice of a specialist due to the diabetes.

Yes, these two toes touch by the nail and I think it could be that the skin, right by the nail, has broken because it has been rubbed a little. It happened to my father in the same way - and yet before I had diabetes, nothing happened in this way, but if any little thing on or around my nails had happened, it would have healed immediately. So the nurse said: 'You could do with a toe separator I think.'

 

[eisoj14]

Have you still got proper feeling in all your toes?

Yes I have.

 

[eisoj14]

Welcome @eisoj14 🙂

Did the nurse give you any idea what had caused it? Is it athletes’ foot (which can look like injured, broken skin), or a neighbouring toenail rubbing against the next toe as you walk? Or your shoes? Etc.

There are various inserts for shoes but I think I’d take the advice of a specialist due to the diabetes.

I do have to wear arch supports because I have dropped arches, and I rather think that this means that my toes may be pushed a little higher in my shoes and perhaps walking causes them to be rubbed, and yet it is only the same toes on each foot. The doctor recommended I go to a chiropodist/podiatrist for regular care/advice. Doctors are only GENERAL practitioners.

 

[eisoj14]

Hi Josie(?) and welcome.

Sorry to hear you are having problems with your feet.

Can you tell us a bit about your diabetes as that might relate to the foot problems you are having... Ie
How long have you been diagnosed?
What was your latest HbA1c result?
Are you on any medication for your diabetes?

Good foot care is crucial to diabetics so that we prevent or detect infections before they get too bad. Prevention is obviously best. Washing feet daily is recommended and moisturising but it is generally advised not to moisturise between the toes. That said, I use a product called Margaret Dabbs Foot Hygiene Cream.... which is actually a hard waxy oil and contains emu oil and tea-tree extract as well as salicylates, which help to prevent fungal and bacterial infection. I have extremely dry skin and have tried everything over the years including Flexitol which is recommended and prescribed by podiatrists but I find the Margaret Dabbs superior to everything for keeping my feet right. It is expensive to buy (about £25 for a large 150g pot if I shop around on ebay) but usually lasts me a whole year and well worth every penny. I have tubes of Flexitol untouched since I discovered this stuff 5 or so years ago. It is probably the only luxury product I ever buy but I have suffered with sore feet for most of my life and this stuff relieves me of the pain and keeps them soft and supple and healthy. I live in wellies half the year and I am out in the cold and wet a lot so having feet free of pain from cracks is hugely important to me.

Plenty of people here on the forum use flexitol or other moisturisers but none are recommended for use between the toes which is clearly where you have the problem. I have no hesitation in using my cream between my toes because it contains ingredients which will fight or at least inhibit fungal and bacterial infections, which is generally the reason for not moisturising those area.... because it easily gets sweaty and bacteria can breed rapidly.

Managing your Blood Glucose levels well will help to prevent infections from developing or being stubborn to heal which is why your diabetes diagnosis details and management are important questions to ask first.

Guessed correctly! I was told that my sugar levels were below 7 recently and my weight etc (which I brought down a couple of years ago) is good. I do care for my feet and use a good moisturizer on my feet every day - and sometimes twice a day - not between toes. I think it is just that right next to the nail, the skin has rubbed on the next toe on both feet and perhaps a cotton toe separator is the answer. I didn't know if any of you have tried and found a good one. Thank you all for your kindness. J......

 

[grovesy]

Yes, these two toes touch by the nail and I think it could be that the skin, right by the nail, has broken because it has been rubbed a little. It happened to my father in the same way - and yet before I had diabetes, nothing happened in this way, but if any little thing on or around my nails had happened, it would have healed immediately. So the nurse said: 'You could do with a toe separator I think.'

I have you tried keeping the nails on the toenails trimmed so they don't dig in the next toe.

 

[nonethewiser]

I'm getting broken skin on a regular basis between the same toes on each foot.

Had same issue for years, mine was athletes foot & tried various treatment creams, used lamisil once & it disappeared never to return.