• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Ear boils connected to high sugar?

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Alison Carr

Alison Carr

Active Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi can anyone tell me if they have ever encountered ear boils erupting round the outside rim and lobes if ears as a reaction to high glucose/sugar levels?

They came up as lumps and then burst and were then gooey and totally yucky, both itchy and sore! I had to have Fucidon, then another anti-biotic cream to get rid of them. At this time they are not a problem - but I have been working at reducing sugar and carbs, so it might be there is a connection.

I read in one of the health identifier websites that this can be another sign of diabetese, but the doctor and diabetic nurse had not heard of any connection. Thanks Alison.
 
My mother used to say to us as kids when anything went septic, that it was all the bad in us coming out! so perhaps your earoles have been wicked? LOL

Seriously - 'stuff' like this along with eg repeated thrush can be rife when your BG isn't great. The higher glucose compromises the body's ability to fight bugs of all descriptions, so it's probably been sitting there waiting to explode for a while. Best to let then take their course - and if they don't heal well, get some more ABs - you need to kill whatever it is once and for all.

And of course, never let your BG get to higher levels for any length of time ever again!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ljc
Thanks Jenny - and yes I did have the bad thrush at that time too! (Having tried 3 different canestan-type creams - to no effect - the doctor gave me some lubrication - that wasn't any help either). Pleased to say that since I've started tackling the high carbs and sugar both have all-but-disappeared (at this time).

I don't know if I have really improved blood glucosse yet. Not having used a meter until I asked for one on 15 Jun'16 I don't have anything to compare it to - sure the urine test strips dropped from 20 to no longer registering as I gather they don't work unless well over 10.

breakfast tests on 15th were 10.9 - 10.0, then dinner 8.4 - 9.6.
16th 9.7 - 15.2 (!) lunch 7.9 - 10.2; dinner 7.3 - 10.4
17th 8.8 - 11.1 9.4 - 9.7
18th 9.7 - 10.2 8.0 - 10.4
19th 9.1 - 7.2 8.5 - 11.4 (Sunday I was naughty and had a yorkshire pud and mash)!

As yet I don't know enough to know how good I am doing - I gather it can take 10 weeks on low carb diet to make any really visible effect. My next blood test with a diabetic nurse is not until Thursday, 30th Jun. I will ask her (and record) all my previous test results.

Glad your'e here Jenny - you are always so frank and yet helpful. Regards, Alison
 
Also have a numbish left foot/leg - which seems to have improved at least to some degree this past couple of weeks. Doctor was not bothered and gave no explanation for it - just said the pulse was actually better in that foot than the right one, and that was it. Again I don't have any idea if it is in any way connected to the glucose levels! (The modern medical system just doesn't allow doctors the time to deal with their patients any more; one 5 min appointment for one problem - and get two 5 mins if you have 2 problems). Thanks Alison
 
I too love the bit about wicked ears.
 
Hi Alison
Boils are very much related to high blood sugar, I had a delightful one when diagnosed on my bum cheek though 😳. They're opportunistic infection largely, and quite common I believe. I haven't had another since being well controlled so hopefully it's temporary and you'll be boil free soon. Thrush is another delightful gift of diabetes (well high blood sugar) I was riddled with that too! Just a note though, there's a condition called HS that can cause recurrent boils and it's known to be related to blood sugar so if you keep getting them when you're blood sugar lowers get it investigated, it's nothing to worry about but can be very unpleasant to deal with if not treated. I have it and another member has it too, it's a condition that flares up and then goes into remission, so just something to watch out for. As for the numb foot you should investigate that more, circulation isn't the only issue we have to worry about, high blood sugar impacts the nerves so you could be experiencing neuropathy, which needs to be addressed by a doctor. Again not necessarily a permanent issue but you need to know so you can be aware. Sorry I make diabetes sound like a horror, once you've got it under control it's not so bad honest 🙄
 
I had when my son was a baby, I was not Diabetic then but one of the things the Doctors did at the time was to check my blood sugar levels.
 
I had a tooth abscess three months prior to my diagnosis :( Since diagnosis I have had no such problems as I have been fortunate to maintain good blood sugar control 🙂
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top