Diabetic foot Ulcer
Prevention is the best Medicine
Studies indicate that early detection and treatment of a diabetic foot ulcer may prevent up to 85% of the amputations that occur every year. Foot ulcers are the most common cause of amputation and account for 25% of hospitalizations that occur in the US and Great Britain every year. Prevention is the first step. In order to prevent foot ulcers, a “team” approach is recommended. Diabetics should have regular checkups with their family doctor. Patients should be educated about foot hygiene, nail care and proper foot wear. One of the most common causes of diabetic foot ulcers is poorly fitting shoes, typically, ones that are too tight. If you or someone that you love suffers from diabetes, there are some very important things to recognize and understand. As time goes by, circulation in the tiny capillaries or blood vessels that feed the feet become coated with “sugar” or glucose. This is often referred to as “sugar-coated capillaries”.
Symptoms and complications
To complicate matters, nerve damage (neuropathy) occurs in the extremities, so diabetics may not realize that their shoes are, in fact, too tight. The older a person is, the more likely he or she is to experience neuropathy and a corresponding foot problem may follow.The relevance of the sugar-coated capillaries is that white blood cells and oral or injected antibiotics may not be able to reach the site of infection. That’s why prevention is so important. Treatment is often unsuccessful, without hospitalization and/or amputation. Recognizing early warning signs of restricted blood flow may help prevent diabetic foot ulcers, as new medicines, nutritional therapies and other treatments can be initiated to improve or at least partially restore blood flow. The warning signs of restricted blood flow include pain in the arch or forefront of the foot during the night or when at rest. Thinning, shiny skin is another symptom of restricted blood flow. Absence of hair on the lower leg and thickened nails are other signs. If blood flow has been compromised, the legs will become red when hanging or dangled, and pale when elevated. Your doctor can perform tests to determine blood flow and this can help prevent diabetic foot ulcers. Nutritional and dietetic therapy is often recommended. Diabetics should try to increase their nutritional intake, without increasing their caloric intake. This may require changes in diet.
Final Thoughts
Neuropathy
contributes to the formation of a diabetic foot ulcer in several ways. As the nerves are damaged, there is decreased sweating, which results in dry skin. Using a good moisturizer after bathing can help. When the skin is dry, fissures often form, which predisposes the skin to infection.In many cases, the feet become deformed and changes in footwear to accommodate those changes are not always considered. Your doctor can also check for neuropathy with simple non-invasive tests that measure sensation. Regular checkups are terribly important. Regularly checking the feet for injury and wearing properly fitted shoes is also important. Don’t wait for it to become serious. Consult your doctor.
Return from Diabetic foot ulcer
to your healthy diabetic life
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