All people with diabetes can develop foot ulcers and foot pain, but good foot care can help prevent them. Foot ulcers are a common complication of poorly controlled diabetes, forming as a result of skin tissue breaking down and exposing the layers underneath. They’re most common under your big toes and the balls of your feet, and they can affect your feet down to the bones.
Treatment for diabetic foot ulcers and foot pain varies depending on their causes. A diabetic -foot is any pathology that results directly from peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and/or sensory neuropathy affecting the feet in diabetes mellitus; it is a long-term (or "chronic") complication of diabetes mellitus. Presence of several characteristic diabetic foot pathologies such as infection, diabetic foot ulcer and neuropathic osteoarthropathy is called diabetic foot syndrome.
Due to advance peripheral nerve dysfunction associated with diabetes (diabetic neuropathy), patients' feet have a reduced ability to feel pain. This means that minor injuries may remain undiscovered for a long while, and hence may progress to a full-thickness diabetic foot ulcer.
Doctor identify the seriousness of your ulcer on a scale of 0 to 3 using the following criteria:
0: no ulcer but foot at risk
1: ulcer present but no infection
2:ulcer deep, exposing joints and tendons
3:extensive ulcers or abscesses from infection
Diabetic ulcers are most commonly caused by:
Poor blood circulation is a form of vascular disease in which blood doesn’t flow to your feet efficiently. Poor circulation can also make it more difficult for ulcers to heal.
High glucose levels can slow down the healing process of an infected foot ulcer, so blood sugar management is critical. People with type 2 diabetes often have a harder time fighting off infections from ulcers.
Nerve damage is a long-term effect and can even lead to a loss of feeling in your feet. Damaged nerves can feel tingly and painful at first. Nerve damage reduces your sensitivity to foot pain and results in painless wounds that can cause ulcers.
Ulcers can be identified by drainage from the affected area and sometimes a noticeable lump that isn’t always painful.
Dry skin is common in diabetes. Your feet may be more prone to cracking. Calluses, corns, and bleeding wounds may occur.
All people with diabetes are at risk for foot ulcers, which can have multiple causes. Some factors can increase the risk of foot ulcers, including:
Diabetic foot ulcers are also most common in older men.
Stay off your feet to prevent pain and ulcers. This is called off-loading, and it’s helpful for all forms of diabetic foot ulcers. Pressure from walking can make an infection worse and an ulcer expand. For people who are overweight, extra pressure may be the cause of ongoing foot pain.Wearing certain items to protect your feet:
Diabetic foot ulcers can be removed with a debridement, the removal of dead skin, foreign objects, or infections that may have caused the ulcer. An infection is a serious complication of a foot ulcer and requires immediate treatment. Not all infections are treated the same way. Tissue surrounding the ulcer may be sent to a lab to determine which antibiotic will help. If your doctor suspects a serious infection, he or she may order an X-ray to look for signs of bone infection. Infection of a foot ulcer can be prevented with:
Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, antiplatelets, or anti-clotting medications to treat your ulcer if the infection increases even after preventive or anti-pressure treatments.
Many topical treatments are available for foot ulcers, including:
Your doctor may recommend that you seek surgical help for your ulcers. A surgeon can help alleviate pressure around your ulcer by shaving down the bone or removing foot deformities such as bunions or hammertoes. If no other treatment option can help your ulcer heal or progress further into infection, surgery can prevent your ulcer from becoming worse or leading to amputation.
Frequently asked questions
Q.What are signs of diabetic feet?
Q.Is Vaseline good for diabetic feet?
Use unscented lotion or petroleum jelly (Vaseline) on your feet, though not between your toes. Diabetes can cause very dry skin, which in turn can cause cracking and other problems.
Q.Why can't diabetics soak their feet?
Soaking your feet may actually increase your risk of foot problems. It's recommended that you wash your feet every day, but you shouldn't soak them. Soaking can dry out your skin.
Q.How do you feel when your blood sugar is too high?
Q.What does the beginning of gangrene look like?
Initial redness and swelling either a loss of sensation or severe pain in the affected area. Sores or blisters that bleed or release a dirty-looking or foul-smelling discharge (if the gangrene is caused by an infection) the skin becoming cold and pale.
Q.How do you bring your sugar level down?
Q.How can diabetics improve circulation in their legs and feet?
