blister care

[helen41]

my 80 year old fatherinlaw is a type 2, insulin dependant diabetic. He has neuropathy and no feeling in his feet. This morning I saw a fresh blister on his big toe. There is no sign of infection, but his feet are chronically purple so it's hard to assess. My plan- soak twice a day with epsom salts, dry carefully and wear clean cotton socks after each soak. Anything else I should be doing? Should he be on prophalactic antibiotics?

[helen41]

thankyou Zoelula. I'll take your advice.
He's in one of those regretful stages of life. He was pretty noncompliant for years, and only now is discovering why we nagged him. I do all his cooking now so his sugars are stable, but sadly, he has done himself damage.

[Zoelula]

The most important thing your father in law can do is to control his blood sugar. Complications such as neuropathy are the result of sustained high blood sugars. With tighter control these complications will lessen and not progress. I would use antibiotic creme on the toe. If it doesn't heal in a day or two you might want to bring him to the podiatrist.