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What Causes Hot,red And Swollen Thumb?
My mother in law has a hot red swollen thumb varying in intensity and heat over the last few days. She has arthritis but is no longer taking medications for this. Should we get it looked at.
Also she has just informed me that she has run out of her short acting insulin (she is on humulin Bd prn and Lantus 20units note) so she took two doses of her long acting insulin (Lantus) at 0800 and 1500 for BSL's of 18mmol/L. I have done a BSL and it is still 18mmol/L. I am a nurse and I'm getting a bit worried that she will have a hypo tonight. We have a couple of glucagon pens in the fridge.
Thank you
Also she has just informed me that she has run out of her short acting insulin (she is on humulin Bd prn and Lantus 20units note) so she took two doses of her long acting insulin (Lantus) at 0800 and 1500 for BSL's of 18mmol/L. I have done a BSL and it is still 18mmol/L. I am a nurse and I'm getting a bit worried that she will have a hypo tonight. We have a couple of glucagon pens in the fridge.
Thank you
Fri, 31 Oct 2014
Hi,
Firstly, she needs close watch of her blood sugar in case she has a hypo as you rightly point out. I would suggest 2 hourly blood sugars for the first 8 hours them 4 hourly until her blood sugar reaches normal levels.
She needs to restart her normal insulin regime in 24 hours once the effects of the double dose of Lantus have worn off.
Her swollen thumb may be due to an infection or a flare up of her arthritis in the absence of her usual medication. This will not help her diabetic control. Therefore, I suggest she goes to the ED for assessment of her thumb and possibly antibiotics.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Dr K A Pottinger
Firstly, she needs close watch of her blood sugar in case she has a hypo as you rightly point out. I would suggest 2 hourly blood sugars for the first 8 hours them 4 hourly until her blood sugar reaches normal levels.
She needs to restart her normal insulin regime in 24 hours once the effects of the double dose of Lantus have worn off.
Her swollen thumb may be due to an infection or a flare up of her arthritis in the absence of her usual medication. This will not help her diabetic control. Therefore, I suggest she goes to the ED for assessment of her thumb and possibly antibiotics.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Dr K A Pottinger
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