Diabetics have many health concerns. Nail fungus may often be ignored as among the less severe of these concerns. It shouldn’t be, though, because it can be life-threatening.
A new study in Square addresses this concern and reveals some shocking facts.
The scientists recruited 370 diabetic subjects, 190 males and 180 females, and examined their nails for signs of an infection. They also collected information about their ages, occupations, and other health conditions.
The study aimed to determine the prevalence of nail fungus in diabetic patients from the district of Doda in Jammu & Kashmir, India.
The following were the significant findings.
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1. Compared to the general population, diabetics were 2.5 times more likely to develop nail fungus than non-diabetics (12.16% versus 5%).
2. Diabetic males were 3.5 times more likely to have nail fungus than diabetic females, possibly because males in the study region are more involved in outdoor activities, wear shoes for extended periods, and are more exposed to foot injury, all of which increase the risk of fungal invasion.
3. Toenails were more often affected than fingernails, with big toenails being the most affected, probably because of footwear pressure that narrows blood vessels, impaired blood circulation, and neuropathy.
4. The prevalence of toenail fungus by occupation was 35.6% for office employees, 24.4% for farmers, 17.8% for housewives, and 11.1% for laborers and businessmen. Office workers are at a higher risk because of continuous sitting, lack of exercise, and prolonged shoe-wearing, conditions that are conducive to fungal growth. Farmers and housewives are also at significant risk because of their regular contact with water and soil.
5. Older diabetic individuals were more susceptible to toenail fungus. Those 31–45 years old had 13 cases, those 46–60 years old had 15 cases, and those more than 60 years old had 17 cases.
Why is this a concern for diabetics?
Nail fungus isn’t just an aesthetic issue; it’s a health concern, especially for diabetics. The infection can pave the way for other secondary infections and foot ulcers. Given that diabetics often face vascular and nerve issues, even a small foot injury, including those caused by nail infections, can lead to serious complications.
It’s therefore extremely important that you get rid of your nail fungus ASAP. Fortunately, that’s quite easy to do using the simple natural approach explained here…
Most importantly, you want to reverse your type 2 diabetes. Thousands of readers have done just that using the three simple steps explained here…