A 60-year-old man with poorly controlled diabetes presents with a persistent white coating on his tongue and inside his cheeks, which can be scraped off, leaving a red, bleeding surface. What is the probable diagnosis and treatment plan?
This patient likely has oral thrush (oropharyngeal candidiasis), which is a fungal infection caused by Candida. It's more common in people with weakened immune systems or those with uncontrolled diabetes. The usual treatment is with a topical antifungal medication, such as nystatin or clotrimazole troches. It would also be important to better control the patient's diabetes, as high blood sugar can contribute to the growth of yeast.