A really tiny blob, SailAweigh maybe 1/8 inch across. Gentle manipulation produced another 1/16th inch blob, then nothing.

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I would, as I mentioned, keep antibiotic salve on it and if clothes chafe too much, then bandage it, but loosely so air can still get to it.

That's pretty much my plan of action, I had leftover pantyliners and maxi pads from my leg wound last year, as well as more conventional wound fixins.

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The jury is pretty much in on cuts; the evidence is that they heal best under a bandage. I've become a big fan of the new "advanced healing" bandaids that stay on for several days, but they don't work for big scrapes. Scrapes do seem to heal best for me without a bandage. For scrapes, I've started using the Bactine Pain Relieving Cleansing Spray.

I'm hoping to get caught up on some of the work I didn't do last week when I was having some kind of evil stomach malady. I also need to make cheese straws to take to a party tonight. I should also get outside for a while; it's very shiny out there.

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The question is, am I right in removing the bandages and letting it dry out? Is that the proper treatment? The net seems to have conflicting information.

My grandmother would say yes. The most recent information I have heard from wound specialists says no. They also say no to hydrogen peroxide.

Personally, I trust my grandmother more, overall.

That said, my dad had a skin cancer removed from his leg, the year before he died. It was not healing well, due to poor circulation, albeit not related to diabetes. He had to go on antibiotics. It was still giving him trouble. Finally, his doctor prescribed visits from a visiting nurse specializing in wound treatment. She said the peroxide is an irritant, and that the wound should be kept as moist as possible.

I know you don't have insurance right now Daniel, but maybe you could call whomever was treating you for your diabetes, and ask their advice. Explain your insurance situation, and say the wound seems to be okay, but that you want to be as careful as possible.

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SailAweigh has an unfortunately truncated new tag. If chocolate is the food of the gods, and Coke is the nectar of the gods, that explains why Snickers and Coke go so well together.

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Oh, carp. Thanks for pointing that out P-C. I must have exceeded the word limit and not realized it. Why can't the box be only big enough to fit the number of characters allowed?

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Dan, you know (probably better than I do) that the issue with scrapes/cuts/general flaying in diabetics is that the diabetes can slow or impair wound healing.

But it sounds to me like this particular scrape *is* healing as it should, AND you're keeping an eye on it now that you know what to look for. My feeling is keep it uncovered as long as, like you said, the area around the scab isn't all red and sore, and as long as clothes don't irritate it.

You're a good patient, and, unless you're faking us out, you've done a lot of reading on what you need to keep an eye out for with diabetes (and it's kinda hard to fake having knowledge -- faking being dumb is a LOT easier t /blonde ). It sounds like you're doing exactly the right thing for it.

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Sometimes it just takes awhile to scab over, when it's a big scrape and in a flexible place--I know when I scraped the hell out of my hands falling down the stairs a few months ago, it took nearly a week for them to really start healing.

Yay for hot pancake date, Kate! And maybe some...pancake kisses? :)

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I know you don't have insurance right now Daniel, but maybe you could call whomever was treating you for your diabetes, and ask their advice. Explain your insurance situation, and say the wound seems to be okay, but that you want to be as careful as possible.

Sadly, I've only seen my current doctor (well, nurse-practitioner) once. My previous doctor, who was treating me since discovery last february, left my clinic. Haven't found out where he went, yet.

You're a good patient, and, unless you're faking us out, you've done a lot of reading on what you need to keep an eye out for with diabetes

Munchausen-by-Internet sounds like too much work.

It sounds like you're doing exactly the right thing for it.

Yeah, I think I have acheived the right amount of paranoia to make it work.

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Sadly, I've only seen my current doctor (well, nurse-practitioner) once. My previous doctor, who was treating me since discovery last february, left my clinic. Haven't found out where he went, yet.

Yes, but you can call either the n-p or the clinic. I mean, I don't think you have to, but if you want assurance or advice, most of the health care providers I have had to deal with, are decent about questions over the phone.

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