COMPREHENSIVE FOOT CARE FOR DIABETES

Diabetes is one of the leading chronic health conditions that affects millions of people around the globe. This serious medical issue necessitates proper management and care to keep a person healthy. Foot care is an integral aspect of diabetes self-care, as it can help to reduce the risk of certain foot-related problems such as nerve damage, infections, ulcers, or even amputations. For each person with diabetes, comprehensive foot care is so essential to avoid developing the serious complications.

We provide information on the different kinds of foot care available, how to look out for signs when caring for your feet and some tips to maintain healthy feet. Carry on reading to know more about managing your diabetes by keeping your feet in top condition!

The condition is caused by long-term high blood sugar levels, which damage nerves. Some people may not experience any symptoms, while others may experience debilitating symptoms.

  • Age > 40 years
  • Long-term diabetes – especially if you’ve had diabetes for more than 20 years
  • Poor blood sugar control
  • Smoking 
  • Obesity 
  • Hypertension 

 

The following problems can occur in your feet if you have diabetes:
-Nerve damage: This can lead to numbness and a loss of sensation in your feet, making it difficult to detect injuries or ulcers on your feet, which can lead to serious infections.

-Poor circulation: Diabetes can also cause poor circulation in your feet, which can result in tissue death (gangrene) and amputations.

-Foot deformities: Diabetic foot deformities, such as hammertoes and bunions, can further complicate foot problems and make them more difficult to treat.

Daily foot monitoring can reduce the risk of developing serious foot complications in people with diabetes.

Diabetes requires you to be vigilant in many areas of your health. This includes checking your feet daily, monitoring your blood glucose levels, eating a healthy and balanced diet, taking prescribed medications, and staying physically active.

It is important to take care of your feet and follow preventive measures to prevent serious foot complications such as infections. This involves self-examinations of the feet daily and professional evaluations once a year.

 

When you have diabetes, you may have difficulty feeling your feet or other extremities. You may injure your foot and not realize it until the symptoms are severe. If you have diabetic neuropathy, the nerve damage may cause difficulty or inability to feel your feet or other extremities.

Diabetes causes nerve damage. High blood sugar damages nerve fibers in the body. People with type 2 diabetes and diabetic neuropathy are more likely to develop foot problems each year. There is a 25% to 30% increase in risk for people with type 2 diabetes and other risk Diabetes causes nerve damage. High blood sugar damages nerve fibers in the body. People with type 2 diabetes and diabetic neuropathy are more likely to develop foot problems each year. There is a 25% to 30% increase in risk for people with type 2 diabetes and other risk factors, such as prior amputations.

The blood flow to your extremities such as your feet can also be reduced by diabetes. This can make wounds and infections take longer to heal.

Other serious foot conditions that may develop in those with diabetes can include:

  • Calluses or corns
  • Ulcers or blisters
  • Infections
  • Bone and joint pain
  • Deformities
  • Vascular disease
  • Pressure ulcers
  • Changes in skin temperature or warm spots

 

By caring for your feet and seeking treatment for a developing condition, you can prevent worsening symptoms and more serious treatments like amputation.

It can include a general review of your feet, as well as specific reviews of the following aspects:

  • Skin
  • Musculoskeletal Components
  • Vascular System
  • Nerves

A doctor can develop a treatment plan based on the results of the test to determine your risk for complications related to the feet.

The best defence against foot conditions caused by diabetes is prevention, but prevention may not always be possible.

It may be possible to have fewer invasive treatment options if foot conditions are detected early. Serious foot conditions involving bone deformity or ulcers can be treated with a cast that protects the foot so it can heal. By distributing pressure on the foot, casts can help foot ulcers heal. As long as you wear these casts, you can continue to walk.

A doctor may also recommend specialized shoes to help treat ulcers. These ulcers may require surgical intervention, requiring the removal and cleaning of the affected area. Recovery can take several weeks or months.

 

An examination of a patient should include:

Foot examination: Observe the skin, nails, and structural foot deformities. Check the shoes. Note the presence of:

  • Toe Disfigurements Like Hook Toes, Hammer Toe
  • Bunion
  • High Curve Foot (Pes Cavus)
  • Charcot Foot

Monofilament test:

Monofilament should not be applied to an ulcer, callus, scar, or necrotic area. Apply sufficient force to bend or buckle the filament. A person who cannot feel the 10gram filament at the selected sites is more likely to develop ulcers. This time period should last between one and two seconds. Do not allow the filament to slide across the skin or make repeated contact at the test site.

Perception of vibration (tuning fork at 128 Hz): Place the fork’s stem over the bony prominences of the foot (the big toe and the medial malleolus) to determine if the patient can feel the vibration (tuning fork at 128 Hz). Record the results as present, reduced, or absent based on the patient’s response. Check at more proximal locations such as the anterior superior iliac spine and the tibial tuberosity if none are present.

Test by Biothesiometer: A biothesiometer measures vibration perception threshold (VPT) while the patient is lying down with or without their eyes closed.

Doppler: This procedure involves manual palpating of the dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses in both feet. A handheld Doppler should be used to measure the ankle brachial pressure index (ABI) if peripheral pulsations are absent or clinical suspicion exists of peripheral ischaemia. A normal ABI is between 0.9 and 1.3.

Foot pressure study: Pressure with which you walk is analyzed and noted for the points of high and low.

Some of the potential complications include:

– Foot Ulcers
– Charcot Foot (A Progressive Deformity Of The Foot)
– Infections
– Amputation

Therefore, it is extremely important for people with diabetes to take care of their feet and see a podiatrist regularly. By doing so, they can help to avoid any serious problems from occurring.

 

How can you prevent foot problems?

  • Check feet every day. Do not examine feet in poor light
  • Inspect the top, sides, soles, heels and between the toes
  • Use mirror if necessary

What to look for while examining your feet:

  • Any abnormal sensation
  • Severe pain
  • Dry scaly or cracked skin
  • Any new growth on the feet
  • Soreness and redness of the feet
  • Changes in the shape of the foot
  • Ulcers and pus formation

What to look for in a shoe

  • Must fit properly
  • Use soft leather uppers
  • It should allow any deformities to be cushioned
  • Minimize any pressure
  • Allow more room for toes/wide and deep at the toe thick rubber sole
  • No high heels
  • Firm heel counter
  • Lace-up or Velcro
  • Smooth lining

Foot wear:

  • Wear new shoes for short periods of time in the beginning
  • Then wear for the entire day
  • Rotate between 2-3 pairs of shoes on a regular basis

While buying shoes:

Buy in the afternoon or evening

  • Measure feet
  • Try on shoes for both feet before selecting
  • Stand up to fit
  • Wear in slowly and walk slowly before buying

Before wearing shoes:

Inspect shoes daily for

  • Rough internal edges
  • Foreign bodies
  • Insects
  • Wear a slipper to protect against injury even when indoors at home

Toe nail care:

  • Do not allow toe nail to grow long
  • File sharp edges
  • Ask for help from friends or relatives if unable to file nails by yourself

 

Generally, diabetic socks are designed to minimize foot injuries and keep feet warm and dry. Finding the right pair is a matter of selecting socks that meet your personal needs. Diabetic socks have the following characteristics:

  • Socks with seams can rub against your skin and cause blisters or ulcers. Most diabetic socks are seamless.
  • Skin infections can be prevented by keeping feet dry.
  • Keeping feet dry is made easier with breathable fabrics.
  • Diabetes can lead to blood vessel constriction, reducing circulation to the feet. Warm fabrics help to improve blood circulation.
  • Socks with a square toe box can cause discomfort and moisture build-up between the toes.
  • Many diabetic socks conform to the foot and leg. This prevents the fabric from rubbing against the skin.
  • In a padded sock, the foot is cushioned and protected from injury.

There are a few things you can do to prevent foot problems:

  • Every day, thoroughly dry your feet after washing them with soap and water.
  • Choose shoes that fit well and keep your feet safe.
  • Wash your feet with soap and water every day to ensure that they are dry and clean.
  • If your nails are thick or ingrown, trim them regularly and file them down.
  • Avoid walking barefoot, particularly on concrete or other hard surfaces.
  • Try not to smoke, which can diminish blood stream to your feet and increment your gamble of contamination.

There are many ways you can prevent foot conditions if you have diabetes.

Other practices that can reduce the risk of complications may include:

  • Avoiding walking barefoot or only in socks
  • Keeping toenails trimmed
  • Avoiding friction on the feet due to footwear or abrasive tools or products,
  • Seeking prompt care for foot wounds
  • Regular foot exams by a doctor trained in diabetic foot care
  • Quitting smoking, if you smoke
  • Wearing appropriately fitting shoes, or Asking a doctor to request custom shoes or orthotics for you
  • Wearing moisture-wicking socks are all important steps to take to keep your feet healthy.

 

Diabetes can cause a variety of foot problems. The most common ones are diabetic neuropathy, which occurs when the nerves in the body are damaged; diabetic foot ulcers, which are sores that don’t heal; and Charcot’s foot, which is a deformity of the bones and joints.

The best way to treat any of these problems is to see a Podiatrist. They will be able to assess your feet and provide you with the appropriate treatment. A Podiatrist can help prevent serious foot problems from developing if you have any concerns about your feet. This may include custom orthotics, footwear advice, or wound care.

Scope of treatment

  • Podiatry
  • Offloading surgery
  • Debridement
  • Amputation
  • Reconstructive procedures
    • Skin grafting
  • Vascular reconstruction
    • Angioplasty
    • Vascular bypass
  • Physiotherapy
  • Footwear

 

  • Specialsed in the field of diabetes more than 30 years with evidence based treatment and trusted by 8 lakh+ patients
  • Diabetic foot evaluation and treatment by foot surgeons
  • Your diabetic medication will be tailored according to your specific needs by a diabetologist
  • An interventional radiologist and vascular surgeon with extensive experience treating diabetic foot disorders and specifically, issues in the blood vessels of the legs can treat you
  • In addition to recommending the most appropriate footwear for you, a Rehabilitation Specialist with internationally recognized experience in foot rehabilitation will make the footwear on-site at an affordable price for you
  • A computerized foot profile with a foot examination, foot pressure study, Biothesiometry, and Doppler Evaluation.
  • A nurse with expertise in diabetic foot care will dress your wound
  • Medication for neuropathy pain

Check your Foot Today!

Taking care of your feet is essential for those with diabetes to prevent serious complications like infection, neuropathy and the risk of amputations. Make sure you check them daily, clean and hydrate them regularly, and if possible, see a podiatrist for advice on proper foot care. By following these procedures, you can maintain healthy feet and protect yourself from diabetic related issues.

 

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