Hello
I have just joined this forum. My mum aged 77 was diagnosed with diabetes 2 nearly two and a half years ago. She was only diagnosed after 2 years of what she describes as being 'unwell' and decided to tell me that she needed help because she had lost nearly 3 stone in weight and she wasn't dieting. After many different tests she was finally diagnosed along with other health issues.
A couple of months ago she discovered an ulcer on her ankle. She waited two weeks before telling me. I therefore made an urgent appointment for my mum to see her GP. He referred her immediately to the District Nurse who visited mum on the same day to dress the ulcer. Then was then referred to the Planned Treatment Department at our local hospital. After 3 weeks the Planned Treatment Department felt that mum's ulcer needed further investigation and referred her for an urgent doppler as well as treatment for ingrowing toenails that mum doesn't realise she has because she has lost the nerve feeling in her toes. After the doppler was carried out the hospital decided to use a compression bandage to help the circulation in mum's leg. It was fascinating to hear the difference between her left leg where her ulcer is compared to her right leg.
Mum saw the Diabetic Nurse at the local surgery last week and when I told her about mum's ulcer on her ankle and asked her if this was caused by mum's diabetes she just replied 'probably'. the Diabetic Nurse wasn't that bothered about mum's ulcer and was more interested in telling me that I am highly likely to get Diabetes 2 so recommended that I get tested asap and that my children should too when they get into their 30s as it often runs in families. I then explained that mum's blood sugar level was around 15.3 and she said that was to be expected because she has an infection in her leg.
On Thursday, I asked the nurse at the hospital if she thought mum's ulcer was caused by mum's diabetes and she just replied she didn't know. I then asked her how long will it take to get better and her response was 'a very long time'. She then examined mum's ankle and it had become infected and she applied some silver cream to mum's ulcer. The nurse then said she was thinking of starting mum on a 12 week plan but seeing mum's leg on that day said that a 18 week plan would probably be better. She said after then her treatment can be reviewed.
So after asking the question about mum's ulcer being as a result of her diabetes has remained unanswered and I am hoping someone on her can share their experience with me as I would really like to know if mum's leg will ever get better or are things going to get worse for mum. I just want to be prepared and have answers for mum.
Thank you for listening!
I have just joined this forum. My mum aged 77 was diagnosed with diabetes 2 nearly two and a half years ago. She was only diagnosed after 2 years of what she describes as being 'unwell' and decided to tell me that she needed help because she had lost nearly 3 stone in weight and she wasn't dieting. After many different tests she was finally diagnosed along with other health issues.
A couple of months ago she discovered an ulcer on her ankle. She waited two weeks before telling me. I therefore made an urgent appointment for my mum to see her GP. He referred her immediately to the District Nurse who visited mum on the same day to dress the ulcer. Then was then referred to the Planned Treatment Department at our local hospital. After 3 weeks the Planned Treatment Department felt that mum's ulcer needed further investigation and referred her for an urgent doppler as well as treatment for ingrowing toenails that mum doesn't realise she has because she has lost the nerve feeling in her toes. After the doppler was carried out the hospital decided to use a compression bandage to help the circulation in mum's leg. It was fascinating to hear the difference between her left leg where her ulcer is compared to her right leg.
Mum saw the Diabetic Nurse at the local surgery last week and when I told her about mum's ulcer on her ankle and asked her if this was caused by mum's diabetes she just replied 'probably'. the Diabetic Nurse wasn't that bothered about mum's ulcer and was more interested in telling me that I am highly likely to get Diabetes 2 so recommended that I get tested asap and that my children should too when they get into their 30s as it often runs in families. I then explained that mum's blood sugar level was around 15.3 and she said that was to be expected because she has an infection in her leg.
On Thursday, I asked the nurse at the hospital if she thought mum's ulcer was caused by mum's diabetes and she just replied she didn't know. I then asked her how long will it take to get better and her response was 'a very long time'. She then examined mum's ankle and it had become infected and she applied some silver cream to mum's ulcer. The nurse then said she was thinking of starting mum on a 12 week plan but seeing mum's leg on that day said that a 18 week plan would probably be better. She said after then her treatment can be reviewed.
So after asking the question about mum's ulcer being as a result of her diabetes has remained unanswered and I am hoping someone on her can share their experience with me as I would really like to know if mum's leg will ever get better or are things going to get worse for mum. I just want to be prepared and have answers for mum.
Thank you for listening!