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What Causes Recurrent Boils In A Diabetic?

Posted on Mon, 15 Dec 2014

Question: Sir, Of late I hv been suffering from recurrent boils. I am diabetic but the Glucose level is very much under control. Last few days I hv checked my sugar with Glucometer & random is 90-95 on an average. Even this morning also I hv checked fasting and it is 82. Since last 3-4 years i hv been taking Ramipril-H (5+12.5), Atorvastatin 10 mg, Metformin 500 mg SR b.i.d. after lunch & dinner and Amlodipine 5. My symptoms are fully under control with these medicine. I am 51 years, 5.6 height , weight 70 kg. I used to go for morning walk more or less regularly. Kindly help me to get rid of these boils problem because I dont understand why it should happen despite strict maintenance of proper hygiene.

Answered by Dr. Niranjan G (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Please take complete course of antibiotics and check your HbA1c

Detailed Answer:
Dear sir,

I understand your problems... by the way boils are very common in diabetics ... you have mentioned that you have checked your glucose levels with glucometer... some times the glucometer values cannot be accurate suppose if it is not calibrated.. get your fasting plasma glucose, post prandial, urine miroalbuminuria and HbA1c levels with the current medications.. that will give us a nice idea of your glycemic control... please take complete course of antibiotics for example cloxacillin with clavulanic acid for about 5 -6 days ...

you told that you keeping the part clean ... make sure you are doing it for some time and also moist free.. other medications you are taking are good and has to be continued ..

please note that life style modifications are very important in managing diabetes .. please do exercise and practice yoga/meditation with good nutritious diet ... if you are a non vegetarian please take boiled egg white or boiled fish or some times chicken with out skin... in diabetic patients the immunity will be low .. hence you need to have more of protein rich diet ...

dear sir avoid touching the boil with bare fingers good clean dry cloths to cover it and meet your surgeon get a complete course of antibiotics ...

please do contact me with lab reports ... thank you do contact me if you have any other questions...

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari

Follow up: Dr. Niranjan G (5 hours later)

Sir,
The Antibiotic you have referred i.e. Cloxacillin+C Acid is not available in the market in our area. Kindly suggest any substitute. However, I forgot to mention that to-day I hv checked my PP sugar and it is 148. Sir, I would also like to inform you that hba1c i used to check every after 3 months and it was 6.1 during the 1st part of October 2014. I will definitely do that again at the end of december.

Answered by Dr. Niranjan G (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
you can go for cloxacillin plain also

Detailed Answer:
Dear sir,

Thank you for follow-up question ..

If the combination is not available please get cloxacillin plain also ... please get the prescription from your treating surgeon and go to the pharmacy or else you may not get it. This has to be take in empty stomach and four times a day ...

Do contact us if you have any other questions ....

Thank you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari

Follow up: Dr. Niranjan G (15 hours later)

Sir, Thanks for d advice. But taking antibiotic 4 times a day is problematic for me as my working hours is 8 am to 8 pm. Since most of the time away from home it is not convenient to take medicine. Can u please suggest any other antibiotic in convenient doses e.g. once daily or at best twice daily.

Answered by Dr. Niranjan G (47 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Tab. cefixime with clavulanic acid along with local antibiotic ointment

Detailed Answer:
Dear sir ... i understand your problems ... if you have difficulty then you can go for tab. cefixime with clavulanic acid (CEFF-CV) (This is also a prescribed medication).. two times a day after food for 5 days with out stopping ... do not touch the wound and keep the part very much dry ... use fresh dry cloths every day ... apply mupirocin ointment also please wash your hand with antiseptic soap / solution before touching the wound ... more over take care of your general health ... nutrition .. eat nutritious food rich in proteins (boiled egg/ fish) green leafy vegetables, fruits hydrate your body nicely .. TAKE CARE .. THANK YOU FROM H C M ...

Note: For further follow-up, discuss your blood glucose reports with our diabetologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju