Diabetic Foot

Diabetes doesn’t only increase blood sugar, it also has dangerous effects on several organs in the body, which leads to serious complications such as diabetic foot.

What is diabetic foot

It’s the incidence of having problems in the feet resulting from diabetes because it leads to neuropathy, abnormal foot biomechanics, peripheral arterial disease, and poor wound healing.

Stages of diabetic foot

• A sore, blister, or wound being unnoticed: Neuropathy causes numbness, tingling, and pain in the feet in general, which makes the patient unable to notice any problem in the feet.
• The wound gets infected: Diabetes causes a weakened immunity, therefore, diabetic people are at a higher risk of infection.
• The infection doesn’t heal completely: Diabetes causes damage to the blood vessels and reduces blood flow to the feet which leads to slow healing.
• The slow healing leads to severe complications: When untreated quickly, this infection could lead to gangrene or/and the infection might spread to other areas in the body.

Conditions that lead to diabetic foot

• Cuts, ulcers, blisters, or burns that are unhealed completely, and this is the most common condition.
• Dry and cracked skin.
• The buildup of hard and thick skin as a result of frequent friction and pressure on the skin.
• Fungal infections.
• Ingrown toenail.
• Changing the shape of the toes (they become curled instead of flat) as a result of pressure.

Symptoms of diabetic foot

• Any changes in the skin or toes, like cuts, blisters, calluses, etc.
• Frequent bleeding.
• Discharge of fluid or pus.
• Foul smell.
• Pain and swelling.
• Skin discoloration.

Complications of diabetic foot

The most important diabetic foot complications are gangrene and Charcot’s foot.

Gangrene

It occurs when the blood stops flowing into a specific part of the body, which leads to tissue death, and if it’s not managed immediately, it could lead to amputation and sometimes death.

Symptoms of gangrene include:

• Discoloration of skin from red to brown, and ultimately to purple and black.
• Skin swelling.
• Extreme pain or loss of feeling.
• The skin is cool when touched.
• A crackling sound when touching the skin.
• Sores and blisters that discharge blood or foul-smelling pus.
• Fever and chills.
• Rapid breaths and heart rate.
• Loss of appetite and vomiting.

Charcot’s foot

It’s a rare complication of diabetic foot that occurs as a result of neuropathy caused by diabetes. When left untreated, this condition starts affecting the joints, which might lead to permanent disability in the foot and increase the risk of infection.

Early symptoms of Charcot’s foot include:

• Pain and swelling in the foot.
• Discoloration or redness of the skin.
• A feeling of heat or warmth in the foot.

Diagnosis of diabetic foot

Medical history of the patient, physical examination for the feet, toes, and legs, imaging tests, and biopsy.

Treatment of diabetic foot

It depends on the condition, and in the case of any cuts or blisters, the specialist manages them and prescribes the necessary medications.

Prevention of diabetic foot

• The most important prevention factor is managing and controlling blood sugar and visiting the doctor regularly.
• Check your feet and clean them daily.
• Trim your toenails regularly.
• Wear comfortable socks and shoes.
• Don’t walk barefoot without shoes.
• Protect the feet from hot and cold weather.
• Keeping the blood flow in the feet through moderate physical activity and constantly moving the feet and toes.
• See your doctor immediately when any problem occurs in the feet.
• Follow a healthy lifestyle.