West Warwick, RI
A 42-year-old male asked about a female:
why do diabetics get boils and what can we do to prevent them or bring it to a head once it forms? thanks
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Rajnish Jaiswal answered
Emergency Medicine 24 years experience
Blood Sugar Control: Diabetes by it's very nature tends to weaken the immune system and predisposes to bacterial infections. In poorly controlled diabetics, the elevated blood sugars forms an ideal medium for bacteria to grow and flourish. The best way to avoid frequent boils is to control your diabetes. If you do notice a boil, I suggest not to manipulate it too much and let is come to head on it's own or see an MD.
3921 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Susan Arnoult answered
Family Medicine 25 years experience
Sluggish: The immune system in a diabetic is sluggish especially when the sugars are high over a long period of time. This makes infections easier to contract. The best defense is to keep your diabetes WELL controlled with HbA1c under 7.0. You can use a warm compress, warm/hot sitz baths with epsom salts or even a tea bag compress to the boil to try and get it to drain.
3813 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Last updated Jan 17, 2017
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