What is diabetic foot?
Diabetes can have a variety of effects on the feet, and diabetic foot is defined as the manifestation of symptoms in the foot that are related to diabetes or its complications. This can involve a variety of issues, including infections and ulcers.
What are the symptoms?
Common side effects include leg ulcers, infections, and sores. Sepsis can result in foot amputation in extreme circumstances. For people with diabetes, conditions like athlete’s foot, calluses, fungal nail infections, corns, blisters, bunions, dry skin, and ingrown toenails can be more problematic.
Blisters and other foot injuries usually take a long time to heal, and people with diabetes should get help right away if they have ulcers, breaks in their skin, discharge from a wound, or changes in the color of their skin.
What causes or what produces diabetic foot?
Over time, high blood sugar can damage blood vessels and nerves, resulting in neuropathy, or loss of feeling in the feet. This can also hinder the body’s ability to heal because of decreased blood flow. Ulcers and infections may result from the foot’s damage going unnoticed and taking longer to heal.
How can diabetic foot be prevented?
For diabetics, it is firstly very important to try and keep blood sugar levels under control to prevent damage to the nerves and blood vessels. As normal foot problems are more problematic, it is recommended that:
- feet are checked regularly
- toe nails are trimmed regularly
- shoes and socks are worn to protect the feet
- good circulation is maintained
- feet are washed regularly.
In addition, people at high risk of getting ulcers may undergo screening. Good patient education can also help prevent problems. It is also recommended that the patient stops smoking as this also worsens circulation. Therapeutic shoes can also help to protect the feet.
What is the treatment of diabetic foot?
The type of foot issue being treated and the unique circumstances will determine the exact course of treatment.
When diabetic foot ulcers are present, it’s critical to keep them from getting worse and to keep them from getting infected. Reducing pressure on the feet as much as possible promotes healing and helps stop the ulcer from getting worse.You can also use compression wraps, diabetic shoes, shoe inserts, etc.
The ulcer must be treated right away if it is infected. Depending on the kind and extent of the infection, the course of treatment may involve topical therapies or prescription drugs like antibiotics.
In more serious situations, surgery might be required. In the event of potentially fatal infections, this may involve amputation or the removal of foot abnormalities.
What specialists treat diabetic foot?
Depending on the severity of the condition, diabetic foot treatment frequently calls for a multidisciplinary team approach. Thus, a general practitioner, endocrinologist, vascular surgeon, internal medicine specialist, surgeon, and physical therapist can all treat diabetic foot.