Could unexplained brusing in the foot of an older diabetic woman be gangrene?

my future MIL apparently has big bruising on her foot this morning...she does not recall anything dropping on or happening to her foot...she has some developmental or some sort of disorder plus other health issues but i highly doubt she'd forget hurting her foot, knowing her as i do...she is 69.

i am concerned about diabetic gangrene...i have not seen her foot but i want to make sure she gets checked out by her visiting home nurse.

If it just happened it's not gangrene. Impossible.

She does need to have the nurse call the doctor about it. I'm glad she has a nurse to check on her. Thank God. So many don't.

Wrong place to ask...get that woman to a doctor immediately.

idk, but my great aunt has that kinda same problem, but she's not diabvetic. if your MIL takes any medications, they could thin her skin out, and even the lightest touch could make a huge bruise. trust me, i know. it happens to my great aunt all the time. Still, she should get it checked out by a doc.

Well she might have had some veins pop on her foot. SHe need to be chacked by a Dr. and also she soudns liek she might ahve vericose viens too so tell her to be carefull and rest her feet as much as possible. But have her changed though

Get it checked . Gangrene is usually black color. Bruises are usually purple or purplish black color. Developmentally disabled people may not recall bumping their feet. Diabetics may not be able to physically feel when their feet are damaged, due to diabetic peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage from frequent high glucose levels over time.)

It sounds like your MIL has neuropathy.

In diabetes, high blood sugar leads to increased viscosity (in simple words - increased concenteration of sugar and thick blood), which leads to leaking of water into the nerves. The sheath covering the nerves can not handle this, and is destroyed by the pressure, leading to damage of the nerves.
Such damage is percieved as abnormal sensations such as--

NUMBNESS
PAIN
ABNORMAL FEELING OF TOUCH AND TEMPERATURE

this is Neuropathy.

If this is the case, she would not remember damaging her foot, because she would never have felt it.

And it's easy to tell the difference between a bruise and gangrene. If you are sure it is a bruise, it's not gangrene.

Am including the following because it has good information if this really is the problem--

I realize that conventional health care is necessary and appropriate. That having been said, there are also many things WE can do to overcome type II diabetes, and improve life as a Type I diabetic. I've been researching alternative medicine, and the amount of help that's available to diabetics is amazing.

Natural remedies are quite effective, and include:

Cinnamon
Bitter Melon
Gymnema Sylvestre
Nopal cactus
American Ginseng
Fenugreek
Chromium picolinate

Cinnamon regulates glucose, and has a polyphenol compound called MHCP that mimics insulin and activates cell receptor sites. A quarter teaspoon twice daily makes a difference. Fenugreek increases blood flow and inhibits the growth of infectious organisms. Everything on the list has a use in fighting diabetes. Learn how to use these herbs and don't fall victim to diabetes needlessly.You can find out about about them on line, or in a book I read cover to cover--

"One Son's Quest for the Cause and Cure of Diabetes", ISBN 7890766313

The author, a doctor, lost his mother to diabetes and spent the next 20 years finding a way to overcome it. My brother was dying of diabetes, and I was just starting to need insulin when we came across this definitive work which came out in February 2005. We both lead mostly normal lives now. It's a life saver, and the best money you'll ever spend on the subject if you decide to go that way.
You might want to check Abe Books, Alibri's, or Amazon.com for a good used copy cheap. I bought mine new, and I think it was about $35. I don't get any money from anybody for telling you this--just want to help, and the techniques in this book is what made the difference for me and mine. Best of luck.

Just recently found this 8-minute non-profit video http://www.rawfor30days.com/view.html , about diabetes diet. Click on the link, then click 'View Windows Media' to watch it.You'll be glad you saw it.