Diabetic Foot: It’s Not As Strange As It Sounds

In America, over 50 percent of total foot amputations takes place due to diabetes.

Diabetic Foot Problems:

The two main diabetic foot problems are:

Diabetic Neuropathy:

This diabetic foot problem is developed when nerve damages caused by diabetes lead to numbness in the feet, making hard for a diabetic to feel irritation, soreness or infection on their feet.

Due to this lack of sensation, a diabetic develops higher risk of getting cuts, sores and blisters.

In such a case, a diabetic may end up developing ulcers and even gangrene (death of tissue due to lack of blood).

Peripheral Vascular Disease:

When fatty deposits and calcium builds up in the arteries’ walls, it leads to a diabetic foot problem known as peripheral vascular disease.

Numbness or weakness in legs, especially while walking and painful cramps in hips, thighs or calf muscles are some of its symptoms.

Some other diabetic foot problems are calluses, corns, athlete’s foot, bunions, ingrown toenails, hammertoes, plantar warts.

Diabetic Foot Treatment:

Diabetic foot treatment can be either surgical or non-surgical depending upon the severity of the condition:

Non-surgical diabetic foot treatment includes cleaning and dressing of wounds, wearing immobilization devices such as a total contact cast or cast boot.

Surgical diabetic foot treatment is opted for when non-surgical diabetic foot treatment fails to cure diabetic foot problems.

Surgical diabetic foot treatment options include removal of dead tissue, amputation, arterial bypass for peripheral vascular disease, and endovascular surgery with placement on stents.

Diabetic Foot Care:

The most important thing that comes under the diabetic foot care and that every diabetic should do, whether or not they have any foot problem, is seeing a podiatrist (a foot doctor) in every 2 or 3 months.

Another important thing under diabetic foot care that every diabetic should ensure is to keep their feet healthy.

Other tips under diabetic foot care include:

•    Examine your feet daily and check for injuries
•    In order to prevent any infection, make sure to wash your feet everyday with warm water
•    Trim nails carefully
•    Protect feet from extreme temperatures
•    Wear comfortable and closed-toe footwear
•    Do not walk barefoot
•    Moisturize your feet but not between your toes – it could lead to a fungal infection
•    Wear dry, clean and comfortable socks
•    Most important, take care of your diabetes. Always keep your blood sugar levels under control
•    Do not smoke

If you wish to know more about diabetic foot care or have some queries regarding your diabetic foot problem or want to be informed about diabetic foot treatment, then please reach out to us on our helpline number 1800-123-445555.