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Bella7 Asked April 2017

Is this non-sweating, dry condition in his feet an "advanced stage" in his diabetes or do all diabetic's feet not sweat?

My 82 yr old dad, has type2 diabetes. He has severe proliferative retinopathy, neuropathy in the feet, currently trying to get a foot ulcer healed, etc. He has been telling me for months that his feet don't sweat. I recently read that diabetic skin gets dry and cracked. I wish I would've listened to him telling me this.
He has bad bathroom habits...
Foot culture from sore came back as pseudomonas aeruginosa/enterococcus.
Wondering where these germs came from? Did he step POO?  The nasty medical assistant who didn't wear gloves while touching feet?
The swab used at dermatologist?
Many ways possible I guess.
Dad was resting his bare foot on the floor in patient room waiting on doc, eww both ways, for other people coming in to the room next and for my dad's wound on the dirty ground!


Am I supposed to ignore these unsanitary "moments"? Am I overreacting?


I wish I would've drug my stubborn dad to the doctor to get his feet checked more often.
He's legally blind and can't check them himself...not going to ramble on today...moving forward now and doing the best that I can.


Just wondering if this non-sweating/dry condition is an "advanced stage" in his diabetes or do all diabetics feet not sweat ?

Bella7 Apr 2017
Thank you katiekate!

In your last sentence regarding the antibacterial cream and moisturizing cream, that is what the dermatologist ordered two weeks ago plus a new antibiotic because the previous ones weren't working. Tomorrow we go back to the dermatologist to see how it is looking.

Katiekate Apr 2017
This is quite common. The fact that they have neuropathy along with bacterial buildup contributes to so many amputations. Keeping his feet clean and moisturized is important. The cracking in the skin allows bacteria a point of entry.....He likely cannot feel when his feet has serious sores.

Diabetics heal much much slower too...this will take a while...be sure to keep antibacterial cream on his feet, and moisturizer.

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