Diabetic Foot Syndrome Management

Highlights :

Foot ulcers are a common complication of diabetes
They affect more than 15% of diabetic patients
Diabetic foot ulcers result in more than 70,000 lower extremity amputations per year in US alone

Diabetic foot ulcers are open wounds and affect more than 15% of diabetic patients. Dr. Sanjay Sharma, a leading podiatric surgeon, spoke to Medindia about diabetic foot ulcers’ symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

Diabetes Foot Care Treatment Prevention
Valuable information on diabetic foot care, treatment and prevention.

‘Be alarmed to save your limb from amputation due to diabetic foot syndrome.’
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How Diabetes Causes Diabetic Foot?

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that causes high blood sugar. Insulin moves sugar from the blood into the cells to be stored or used for energy. With diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t effectively use the insulin it does make.

Nerve cells and the brain require glucose for normal functioning. A decrease in glucose levels leads to nerve damage resulting in peripheral neuropathy.

The nerve damage is caused by chronically high blood sugar and diabetes. Peripheral neuropathy leads to numbness, sensation loss, and sometimes pain in the feet, legs, or hands. It is the most common complication of diabetes. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy accounts for 60% to 70% of all peripheral neuropathies.

Vasculopathy and neuropathy are together called diabetic foot syndrome. The syndrome can happen not only in advanced diabetic patients, but also in early diabetic patients. The monofilament test is the most widely used diagnostic method for the diabetic foot.

Diabetes Risk Assessment Calculator
Almost one-third of the people are unaware of the risk factors of diabetes. Find out if you run the risk of diabetes by using Diabetes Risk Assessment calculator.

Symptoms of Diabetic Foot Syndrome

Early symptoms and advanced symptoms must be well acquainted. Symptoms such as

Unable to sense hot or cold Thickening of feet
Changes in feet color and shape
Callus (thick, hardened layers of skin) is a precursor of ulcer

Quiz on Diabetes Medications
How much do you know about the medications used to treat diabetes? Here are a few questions you could attempt to test your knowledge.

Myths Related to Diabetic Foot Syndrome

Diabetic patients must not take their foot in the water
Patients must necessarily wear diabetic footwear

Insulin Injections for Diabetes
Insulin Therapy plays an important role in treating diabetes.Learning about insulin injections can help you better manage your diabetes condition.

Special Care for Diabetic Foot Patients

Foot taken in water must be well dried off
Soft footwear is advised to wear

Treatment and Prevention of Diabetic Foot Syndrome

Amputation is the last resolve
To prevent diabetic foot turning in the advanced stage, get the blood test done periodically
Periodically get tested for Vitamin D and Vitamin B12. Vitamin deficiencies must be rightly supplemented to prevent vasculopathy

Treat your foot like your face and consult the doctor to notice slight changes in feet.

Source-Medindia