Fungal toenail infection

[donnarob]

I've had this problem for a good few years. The medication had horrible side effects so decided against that. The doctor told me it was a very common condition and it wasn't anything to worry about at the time. However, since my diabetes diagnosis, and my blood glucose levels have come right down, my toenails have dramatically improved. Was/is this a symptom of diabetes and will I continue to have problems in this area?

Donna 😱

 

[AlisonM]

As I understand it high blood sugars affect our ability to heal and to deal with opportunistic infections. So, yes, I'd say the improved BGs have enabled you to fight the infection better.

 

[Northerner]

Hi Donna, I would certainly think that the improvement in your blood sugar levels is related to the improvement in your nails. Higher than normal blood sugar levels affect practically every cell in our bodies, so the closer you can get down to what the body has eveolved to cope with, the better. Sugary blood is the ideal medium for proliferation of bacteria.

I remember the two years prior to my diagnosis, when my levels were probably already abnormal, I had a great deal of problems with my teeth - fillings etc. Eventually, I developed an infection in a tooth that had been root-filled ten years previously - the dentist thinks that there must have been a small amount of infected tissue that had flared up again after all that time. I had to have the tooth removed.

Since diagnosis and getting good levels I have had no problems with my teeth whatsoever (touch wood!), so I am convinced the high levels were directly responsible.

Try your best to keep good levels and I imagine that things will continue to improve for you 🙂

 

[macast]

I've had this problem for a good few years. The medication had horrible side effects so decided against that. The doctor told me it was a very common condition and it wasn't anything to worry about at the time. However, since my diabetes diagnosis, and my blood glucose levels have come right down, my toenails have dramatically improved. Was/is this a symptom of diabetes and will I continue to have problems in this area?

Donna 😱

that is really interesting Donna 🙂 ... as I have had a fungal nail infection in my right big toe for almost a year (after bashing my toe very badly)..... the nail fell off and then grew back really horrible.... but that is where the pain originally started with the neuropathy and quickly spread to all the toes and fingers.... which sent me hobbling to the doc just before christmas.... I was then diagnosed with diabetes. since changing my diet I have noticed the nail growing back all lovely and normal looking 😛

 

[Royston46]

Hi Donna,

Thats really interesting and reading all the replies, I also have a bad nail that has been like that for years, I have been to the doctors about it but they never did anything about it other than tell me sun and fresh air would be good. (I thought yep we live in England !!!) But I am off to the doctors next week so will ask about this.

 

[macast]

Hi Donna,

Thats really interesting and reading all the replies, I also have a bad nail that has been like that for years, I have been to the doctors about it but they never did anything about it other than tell me sun and fresh air would be good. (I thought yep we live in England !!!) But I am off to the doctors next week so will ask about this.

sun and fresh air???? does that come on the NHS???

I have tried to help my fungal infection clear by using athlete's foot cream in the nail bed as I understand that it is the same bacteria that causes it. when I mentioned it to the DSN she said that it was better to try that than have the medication for fungal nail as it has horrid side effects😱 (ask Donna)

 

[caffeine_demon]

plenty of fresh air at the moment, but what is this "sun" you speak of?

 

[Royston46]

Hi macast & Caffeine-demon,

Think I will be at the doctors a long time next week !!!! I know he dreads me going in as I always ask him a lot of questions or to justify what he says (he can earn his money !!!)

Im sick of being fobbed off by them.

 

[Lairyfairy]

I also have had problems with my big toe. I had very small, deep blisters over my hands and soles of my feet (forgotten what they called them but its a type of dermatitis), and at the same time I had a ring of blisters over the top of my foot which went under my big toenail. I found out it was ringworm (not a real worm I might add - yuck) but a fungal infection which I treated with athletes foot cream. It is growing out at the moment but could take a year or more to fully grow out but half of my nail is fine and the affected half is misshapen and lumpy. I asked the Podiatrist at my appt last week and she said it wouldn't get rid of the infection completely and that I should ask my doctor about it as there was a paint that I could apply. Is that what you used Donna? and if so, what were the horrible side effects?

Lairy

 

[chrismbee]

I tried the paint some years ago and it proved to be totally useless for me. It also stinks 😱

 

[donnarob]

Hi Guys,

I used to cover up my horrible toe nails with nail polish, but the doctor persuaded me to go au natural and give the nails a chance to improve. An old friend of mine, suggested rubbing Vicks on the toe nails which seemed to improve them no end. This is before I was diagnosed. (I can't get Vicks in Norway, so have stockpiled a few jars taken back across from Scotland)!

When you get the foot check (will mention this when I go for my review in April), do they take the toe nail issue into account, or is it specifically to see how sensitive your feet are?

Donna :🙂

 

[Sheilagh1958]

I am currently on medication for fungal nail infection and upto now have had no side affects. I have to go for a blood test each month to see if its affecting my liver function and so far its been excellent. Doctor expects me to be on tablets for another 4 months. I have tried the paint in the past but it never did anything at tall.

 

[Lizzie53]

I use Trosyl, painted on twice a day for the last 3 months. Podiatrist said it would take around 12 months to cure it and I must apply it everyday without fail. So far there has been very good improvement. The botton third of the nail is clear and the rest of the nail is less awful looking. You can't buy this particular one over the counter and it is prescribed for me.

 

[Alan S]

I've had this problem for a good few years. The medication had horrible side effects so decided against that. The doctor told me it was a very common condition and it wasn't anything to worry about at the time. However, since my diabetes diagnosis, and my blood glucose levels have come right down, my toenails have dramatically improved. Was/is this a symptom of diabetes and will I continue to have problems in this area?

Donna 😱

As T2s we are definitely more susceptible to fungal infections, not just under toenails but generally. And poor BG control exacerbates them.

I now have an L-shaped nail on my right big toe as a consequence. I tried all sorts of topical treatments for years, including years after I achieved good BG control. Eventually the podiatrist put me on a course of antibiotics (sorry, forgotten what it was) and the fungal infection was fixed but the nail bed was scarred; that section will never support a nail again.

I urge you to do two things. Maintain the best diabetes control you can and see a podiatrist ASAP.

PS Even with good control we are still susceptible, just not as badly. I had not had a fungal infection for years and then just yesterday developed an infection on the webbing between my 3rd and 4th finger on my right hand. Immediate application of Hydrozole appears to be correcting that.