Diabetic Foot

It is always important to recognize early warning signs of foot problems in order to address the ailment at the earliest. Here are some of the symptoms that diabetes foot comes with. You need to look out for:

• Burning, tingling, or painful feet

• Loss of sensation of heat, cold, or touch

• Changes in colour or shape of your feet

• Loss of hair on the toes, feet, and lower legs

• Thickening and colour change (yellow) of the toenails

• Onset of blisters, sores, ulcers, infected corns, or ingrown toenails

• Cracking of the skin of the feet, especially the heels, due to dry skin

Contact your doctor if your symptoms get worse or you experience any of the following:

• Your leg looks pale or blue

• Your leg becomes cold

• Chest pain accompanies leg pain

• Your leg becomes red, swollen, or hot

• New sores or ulcers develop and do not heal

• You experience fever, chills, weakness, or other signs of infection

Diabetic neuropathy and Peripheral Artery Disease are responsible for more risk of foot problems in people with Diabetes.

This is a common complication found in those of types 1 and 2 diabetes. It happens due to uncontrolled high blood sugar levels that may result in damage to the nerves.

If you are diabetic and are experiencing numbness, tingling, pain or weakness of your hands or feet, decreased sensation in the legs and feet you must visit your doctor.. These are the early symptoms of neuropathy.

Diabetic nerve damage lessen your ability to feel pain, heat, and cold, means you may not feel a foot injury. You might not notice a foot injury until it becomes infected.

PVDs affect blood vessels outside of the heart and brain. PVD typically strikes the peripheral veins and arteries that supply the arms, legs, and organs located below your stomach. Arteriosclerosis or “hardening of the arteries” is caused. This plaque decreases the amount of blood and oxygen that is supplied to the arms and legs.

Poor circulation (blood flow) can make your foot less able to fight infection and to heal.

here are two main goals of treatment.

The first is to control pain and symptoms. This allows you to stay active.

The second is to stop the condition from progressing. This will lower the risk of serious and life-threatening complications.

Treatment typically includes lifestyle modifications.

If lifestyle changes do not help control your diabetes foot condition, then your doctor may put you on some medication like antibiotics, dressing and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Removal of dead tissue is necessary in order to control infection and promote wound closure.

This helps in maximizing the structural and physical integrity of the foot which is the goal of surgical intervention in treating diabetic foot infections.

However, in severe cases, guillotine amputations may be required. This procedure is performed either for speed or for control of infection. In guillotine ankle amputation, all of the tissues from the skin to the bone are cut at the level of the ankle without creating flaps of soft tissue. This is done for cases of severe infection.

• Stop smoking
• Follow a regular exercise program that includes walking
• Eat a balanced diet with proper nutrition
• Lose weight
• Treat conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol

• Regular monitoring of blood sugar level (HBA1C), regular exercise, balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and regular medical exams.
  
  
• Do not smoke. Smoking damages blood vessels and decreases the ability of the body to deliver oxygen. In combination with diabetes, it significantly increases your risk of amputation..

• Check your feet every day.
• Wash your feet every day with water. Check temperature with your hand first. Pat foot with towel rather than rubbing vigorously.
• Use lotion or moisturiser to keep the skin of feet soft and moist to avoid dry skin cracks.
• Tim your toenails regularly. Avoid cutting corners, Use a nail file.
• Visit surgeon if you find in grow toenail
• Never walk barefoot as nerve damage reduces sensation.
• Wear protective well cushioned shoes.
• Protect your feet from hot and cold.
• Wear loose socks to bed
• Avoid sitting with crossed legs or standing in one position for a long time.