Re: Diabetic Neurophathy (was: I am really scared..)
From: Sonnet (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sun, 20 Jan 2002 01:45:38 -0600 (CST)
Just wanted to chime in with my "I agree.." My mother, who is quite
flexible and has always cut her own toenails (and is a diabetic) almost
lost a toe a few years ago because of this. She was quite certain she
was trimming her little toe nail with clippers when she noticed blood
everywhere - she had cut off the whole end and hadn't realized it
because she didn't feel it. She's lucky it healed as well as it did,
all things considered!
They say that especially when you have that additional risk of being
diabetic, you should have someone else do it. Just because someone else
has a good angle to see what they're doing and you don't!
At Thu, 17 Jan 2002, Renee wrote:
>
>Panacea,
>
>I'm a stickler for terminology. ;-> To me, constriction is a muscular action
>temporarily making the vessel walls smaller in diameter. Athersclerosis plugs
>up the lumen "permanently" (except surgery, certain diets make the claim to
>reverse, plaques may loosen and move on--bad news). And, it's not the
>circulation loss itself causing the pain. It's the effect on the nerve of
>long-term circulation loss.
>
>For someone who was a med tech for that long, it would depend on the person.
>Are they flexible enough to reach the toes easily and see the entire work
>area? Dextrous enough to control the hands precisely? With retinopathy, that
>would be tough. Being a med tech may give experience in the area, it may not.
> It would depend in what context the person worked. I don't believe med techs
>do much with toenail trimming, though. Even RNs often won't do it because of
>the risk involved. In nursing homes, for example, nurses are not allowed to
>do it, even an RN. They have to have a podiatrist come in to do it. Only
>nurses working with podiatrists, or those in nail or diabetes clinics do it.
>It is up to the individual, though I can rarely recommend it. If you do do it
>yourself, cut straight across, not curved. That reduces the risk of ingrown
>nails and cutting yourself. Also, using an emery board is safer than scissors.
>
>I've seen too many patient with poorly healing wounds, and amputations,
>because of home nail clipping (and home corn/callus removal) to recommend it
>for anyone. Most insurances pay for it for diabetics, so why take the risk to
>do it yourself? Leave it to a professional.
>
>Renee
>
>Panacea wrote:
>>
>> At Wed, 16 Jan 2002, Renee wrote:
>> >
>> >This isn't exactly correct.
>> >
>> >Neuropathy is damage to the nerves. It is usually caused by a decrease in
>> >blood flow (arterial=from the heart to the limbs, venous=out of the limbs to
>> >the heart).
>>
>> I say it's a constriction in blood flow, you say it's a decrease. ;)
>> Okay. Guess I was wrong. ;)
>>
>> >Both these problems result in a higher risk of foot problems. Anyone with
>> >diabetes, or arterial insufficiency, should see a podiatrist every 2 months,
>> >as cutting your own toenails can be harmful.
>>
>> Even if you were a medical technician for 30+ years? :) It's true she
>> does have retinopathy as well.
>>
>> --
>> Panacea
>>
>--
>Renee Cordrey, MSPT, MPH, CWS
>
>---
>
>Don't follow in the footsteps of the masters. Seek what they sought.
> --Zen saying
>
--
Sonnet Fitzgerald, PCOS Association, Online Community Liaison. Email: sonnet@pcosupport.org
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