Diabetic Foot Ulcers - Don't Ignore them !

Diabetes in itself is a disease that can give birth to numerous other medical conditions. Diabetic Foot Ulcers are one of them. Cracks in foot of a diabetic person are common due to being overweight and damaged nerves in feet due to high blood sugar. Our feet takes the burden of weight of whole body, so they also demand proper cleaning and good protection through good footwear. Ignorance of feet often cost diabetic people a lot which can be avoided through proper care.

How does Diabetes affect our feet

Neuropathy: It is damaging of nerves which makes us feel sensation in any body part. Diabetes is a major reason behind loosing sensation in feet and wounds often remain unnoticed due to that. They are noticed only when the infection has gone to deeper level.
Lack of blood supply: Legs are one of the farthest areas of our body from our heart. So it takes most to take the blood there and then get it back from there. Atherosclerosis (blockage in arteries) is common in diabetic people which reduces the blood flow to farther regions like feet. It weakens the immune system for feet. Therefore and wound or infection in feet takes longer to heal.
Cracks: Cracks and easily occur in any overweight person, which is common among people with diabetes. If proper treatment is not done for these cracks then they are an open invitation for fungal or bacterial infection. Neuropathy makes these infection remain unnoticed and they are noticed only when they have gone deeper. It becomes harder for such infections to treat due to lack of blood supply in feet.
Foot Ulcers: Diabetic Foot Ulcers are most common under your big toes and the balls of your feet. They are breaking down of skin tissues and layers underneath, which may happen due to some wound or crack. It can affect the feet down to the bones.

Diabetes and Amputations

If you are diabetic you must must read this. Amputation is surgically removing a body part to stop the infection from spreading to other body parts. A number of diabetic people go through amputation of toes, feet and lower leg to treat infections in them. Such infections happen due to improper care of feet, unnoticed wounds, cracks and infections. Such infections often remain unnoticed due to no sensation of pain due to damaged nerves in the exterior skin. They are often noticed when the infection has gone deeper or when it has reached bone. In some extreme cases doctors recommend amputation of that part.

How a Diabetic person should take care of feet ?

This advice is often ignored by some diabetic people and it cost them a lot in some cases. Feet are one of those body parts that a diabetic person should be most concerned. We will tell you how to take proper care of your feet.

• Inspect and clean your feet daily. It is most important to see any unnoticed cut or wound in your feet. If there is any then get it treated properly.
• Toenails should be cut and cleaned regularly to avoid any infection.
• Use a good footwear to give your proper protection and comfort.
• Keep your blood sugar in check by adopting a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet.
• Try to keep your weight in check and loose some weight to get off some burden from your feet.
• Measure your blood sugar and weight at regular intervals and keep a record of them.