'They are 50 per cent of who I am': The woman addicted to growing her toenails - even though it is risking her health

  A woman who was once addicted to growing the nails on her hands has now grown her toenails to a staggering four inches, limiting her motion and jeopardising her health.

Known as Ayanna, the 54-year-old is the latest quirky character to appear on TLC's show My Strange Addiction on which she refuses to cut her curly claws calling them her 'babies.'

'They're just sexy and sassy. I am considered a long-nailed goddess,' Ayanna told the lifestyle network's cameras much to the dismay of her godson Kuwait and friend Vincent.

Nailed it! A 54-year-old woman has become so obsessed by growing her four inch toenails, she won't even cut them to exercise despite being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes

As if Ayanna's addiction does not already impinge on everyday life, she was recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, a disease which requires activity and exercise to beat.

 

But the extreme nail-enthusiast is adamant, despite what her family say, that she 'will fiercely protect them at all costs.'

Freakish: Ayanna has been growing her toenails for five years and considers them vital limbs

Forced to walk slowly like a penguin on her heels and climb stairs sideways, Ayanna rarely sleeps on her back because the blanket feels like a 'brick is sitting on top of my toe nails,' she explained.

Furthermore, she can't wear socks or any other shoes except flip-flops which she must endure year round, changing only into tennis shoes when she can cut the end out of the foot.
At the age of 24, Ayanna began growing the nails on her hands freakishly long but five years ago, her addiction spread to her feet.

Awkward: The grandmother has to wear flip-flops year round except when she cuts the ends of tennis shoes

Her longest toenail she estimates measures four inches while her shortest competes at an unimaginable two.

Frustrated by his friend's inability to even play with her grandsons and her stubbornness when it comes to taking control of her diabetes, Vincent takes Ayanna to a dance class in order to show her the extent to which she has disabled herself

Determined: Despite not being able to walk properly, play with her grandsons or sleep on her back, Ayanna refuses to cut her 'babies'

But the grandmother gives up after she spends most of the session worrying that he is going to step on her toes and the point of the exercise seems totally lost on her.

Determined to try one more time to convince her that she needs to change her ways he goads her into trimming the nails to which she counters: 'They are 50 per cent of who I am. I will absolutely not cut them.'