There problems with the Diabetic feet. It starts with the diabetic leg pain to more serious problems which increases the risk of amputation. Actually, most amputations are as a result of complications of diabetes.
According to diabetes.co.uk “Diabetes is one the leading causes of amputation of the lower limbs throughout the world. Problems of the foot are the most frequent reasons for hospitalisation amongst patients who have diabetes”.
For this reason proper diabetic foot care is absolutely important. Diabetes mellitus which is a metabolic disorder affects the body’s ability to take excess sugar from the blood and use it for energy.
Excess sugar in the blood for any extended period of time normally causes damage to the blood vessels. The medical term for damage of blood vessels is called diabetic neuropathy.
It normally manifests itself among the first signs of diabetes in the form of numbness or tingling in the outer extremities of the body – the toes and fingers.
The numbness causes loss of feeling in the diabetic feet. Your chance of losing the feeling in your feet increases with the number of years that you have diabetes. Research suggests that up to one in three people with diabetes have some loss of sensation in their foot.
That is the main reasons why cuts, bruises or other injuries may go unnoticed. You may even unknowingly damage your feet by standing on sharp objects like nails or a thumb tacks. This could easily happen at the office. That is why is a great idea not to take off your shoes at work. Instead you should wear comfortable shoes – so you don’t have to take it off and in so doing protect your feet.
Sometimes the numbness can be so bad that if something pierces through your skin, even down to the bone, you may not feel it. If these injuries are not noticed early it may lead to further complications of diabetes. Cut can also become infected if not treated – in some cases gangrene may take hold. You don’t want this to happen because where ever gangrene sets in has to be cut away.
Gangrene is a medical term which describes the death of an area of the body. The most areas of the body to be affected include the toes, feet, fingers or hands. It develops when there is poor blood supply to an affected part of the body as a result of damage to blood vessels.
If you don’t implement proper diabetes foot care for the diabetic feet on a daily basis to eliminate or deal with injuries early amputation of the feet may be a real unwanted possibility.
Actually most amputation is a result of poorly managed diabetes. Proper foot care is essential for everyone since there are many diabetics who have not been diagnosed.
If you experience slow healing cuts on your foot let your health care professional know- as it could be diabetes mellitus. You will be able to reduce the risk of serious complications of the diabetic feet by undertaking daily foot inspections.
You could take simple precautions like not walking bare footed or wearing thin bottom shoes like plimsolls.
Check your feet everyday for cuts bruises or calluses. Good luck
