[cmil66]

Hello all - my mother has type 2 diabetes. Her feet have gotten to the point where they are continuously swollen, purple and numb. She cannot even tell if she has shoes on or not. She has trouble walking because she can't feel her feet touch the ground. She visited a podiatrist who told her (so she says) that there is nothing they can do for her. My mother hates doctors and I fear the podiatrist recommended she see an endocrinologist or had some other advice that she doesn't want to follow. (She is extrememly difficult when it comes to her health). At this point - can anyone tell me what I can do to help her. What type of doctor should she be seeing? I fear that it won't be long before she loses her feet.

[princesslinda]

Cmil66, welcome. Sounds like your mom has a lot going on that she doesn't want to deal with. Diabetes is one disease that you will deal with, like it or not. You either deal with it at from the beginning, watching diet and keeping blood sugars under control, or you deal with it later with all the complications that stem from continuously high blood sugars.

If she doesn't have a family physician, she should get one....and go see him. He can then refer her to the appropriate physicians. Sometimes swelling in the extremities is due to cardiac (heart) problems. This is not something to ignore. Since the veins in the feet are very tiny and diabetes does effect circulation, she MUST be checked out by a doctor. She may very well need to see an endocrinologist, but i'd make an appt. with an internist first as she can then have a full physical exam to see whats going on. DO THIS ASAP!

I'm not trying to sound harsh. I'm very sorry for what you're going through. I lived the same thing with my own mother, who ignored her diabetes, and paid a HUGE price for her neglect.

Your mom owes it to herself, and to those who love her, to take care of herself so she can be around for the kids and grandchildren and to just enjoy her future. She'll feel much better health-wise when she gets things under control.

After you get a few replies here, get you mom to read them and maybe it will encourage her to do what needs to be done.

[fgummett]

Welcome to the forum. I hope we can provide some suggestions and support to help you. From what you describe, this does sound serious.

At this point she (you all) need to treat those feet and her legs like the most delicate glass... the smallest cut, bruise etc... could take forever to heal. Avoid tight fitting stockings, socks, shoes, slippers etc... she needs to change the position of her feet and legs frequently with gentle exercises and massage to help the circulation in her legs and feet. A soft, clean sheepskin can help to spread the weight under her feet and/or legs

She really needs to see a doctor... does she have a family doctor? They may be able to prescribe medication to improve the circulation in her legs or at the very least determine the extent of any issues.

How are her blood sugar readings? How often is her blood sugar tested?

[morrisma]

I agree completely with Linda. Your mom couldn't have a better reason to see a doc. What you describe is not likely to go away on it's own and will probably get worse potentially resulting in amputations.

An idea: My primary care doc is a woman many of whose patients prefer her for that reason. (I like her because she's a great doctor.) Maybe if you could find a female doc, that might help her reconcile herself to going.
Mike

[cmil66]

Thank you all for your replies. You haven't told me anything I don't already know. My siblings and I really need to get her to go see the doctor. She does see a family doctor and a heart doctor on a regular basis. I'm pretty certain she doesn't tell them the whole truth. She takes medication daily and tests her blood sugar daily also. But as I said, she lives alone and I don't think she is being completely honest.

I recently spent a night in a hotel with her which allowed me to get a good look at her feet and I couldn't believe how bad they are.

Thank you again and I will be sure to become the grouchy daughter and push her to get to the doctor!!! I guess having her get angry with me is worth having her around for a while longer...WITH her feet!

[danlad72]

hey
this is gonna sound a bit harsh but please get her to see the doctor.could you go with her?
ive got neuropathy in both my feet as a result of yrs of neglect and recently spent a week in hospital on a drip because i didnt realize i had a blister on the ball of my foot. it got so bad i nearly lost it.Luckily it healed but because of that im now more susceptible to ulcers.
please get you mum to speak to her doctor as soon as possible.
good luck!!

[pokie]

I have neuropathy and poor circulation in my feet and it is nothing to mess around with. Tiny injuries can quickly become a big deal; they do not heal readily. I have finally realized that my old habits of going barefoot and wearing just whatever shoes are done with for me, I need to take special care of these feet if I want to keep my mobility. I hope you can convince your Mom to see a doctor.

[adiantum]

The soles of my feet get very sore, so is that early signs of neuropathy?

I have an apointment on Wednesday with my doctor to have them checked, but would like to know beforehand

[morrisma]

Originally Posted by adiantum

The soles of my feet get very sore, so is that early signs of neuropathy?

I have an appointment on Wednesday with my doctor to have them checked, but would like to know beforehand

It COULD be, but there are many possibilities completely (or mostly) unrelated to diabetes. You may need orthotics.
Mike

[muddy]

I am a type 2 diabetic and remember my own mother a Type 2 in denial about her health problems. She died at age 57 from diabetes complications.Looking back I knew and she knew she was sick but would rather NOT discuss it with any of us. We could not force her to go to the doctor.. believe me we tried. About your Mother.. my mother had the purple feet, etc. She also was hospitalized for it once for over a month.. this put her back on track for awhile.. then she started the denial about how bad she was again. She had kidney failure and refused treatment. Anway, back to the purple feet... it was infection. She had two toes amputated and was lucky. Please, take your Mother to the doctor and show them what is happening. My mother would go but would not tell her doctor and he never knew. I think he knew if he said too much or asked too much of her she would never come back. Sometimes you just do not know what all is going on in someone's mind and what their reasoning is for keeping it to themselves. It is sad. Good Luck with your mother.

[Rebecca]

Numbness and diabetes. I would honestly say Neuropathy. That is damage to the nerves caused by high blood glucose (sugars). There is honestly nothing that can be done for once there is damage to the nerves, there is no reversing the damage. If it is causing her alot of pain, there are medications out there, that are specifically for diabetic neuropathic pain.
I would say that she needs to see a neurologist to get the diagnosis.
Diabetes can and will cause a multitude of complications.
With her not being able to feel her feet, she could get a sore, that she won't be able to fee, won't heal, and eventually can cause gas gangreen, which will lead to amputation(s).
I would also suggest GOING WITH HER to all her doctors appointments and going in with her, so you can voice your concierns to her doctors, and also so she will know that you are concierned about her.
Diabetes is not a disease you can put off. Diabetes in itself does not kill, but the complications can and will (2400 are diagnosed every 24 hours, 240 die every 24 hours due to complications, 18 people loose their legs due to neuropathy caused by diabetes every 24 hours, 11 people loose their eyesight, and 21 people go on dialysis due to ESRD every 24 hours here in america).
Please get your mum to go to the doctor and also please go with her. You would be doing yourself and your mum a disservice if you did not.