Hot water bottles and diabetic patients — a cautionary tale

[摘要] Diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy are advised by their neurologist or GP to be cautious while handling sharp and hot objects, as they are prone to accidental burns to their insensate body parts. About three-quarters of thermal injuries result from the victim's own actions.1 However, many of these patients use hot water bottles in winter to warm their feet. Prolonged contact with these bottles can lead to severe thermal injuries, and we recently encountered two such patients over a span of 3 days who sustained deep burns to their feet, which required hospitalisation. Doctors treating diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy need to advise patients about this practice.

[学科分类] 卫生学