Diabetic foot - Save your foot from diabetes

Foot problem in diabetes is very common and should never be under estimated. After accidents complication of foot associated with diabetes is the most common reason for foot amputation.

Many of the foot problems occur in those with insensitive feet, may be due to inadequate circulation and is precipitated by infection or any injury. These precipitating factors are definite and thus is preventable in majority of cases and a patient can be saved from disability.

The most important aspect in the care of foot in a diabetic patient is to self screening of foot and taking proper care. Before that it is necessary to know why diabetic foot occurs and what are the precipitating factors.

Causes of diabetic foot

The ulceration of foot in a diabetes can be due to any cause which may lead to either poor circulation of blood oe parasthesia or less sensation or any other conditions which may lead to injury and infection of foot. The main causes of diabetic foot are

Decrease in blood circulation

An atherosclerosis or sclerosed arteries may lead in the turbulence of blood flow and even ischemia to muscles of foot, this may lead to ulceration and gangren formation even after a slight wear and tear or injury. As the diabetics are more prone to infection a slight ulceration may lead to secondary infection and becomes difficult to heal as the infective organism gets enough feed in the form of glucose to have a good growth and multiplication.

Decreased sensation of feet due to peripheral neuropathy

In uncontrolled diabetes, there is decreased in sensation of the foot due to peripheral neuropathy and this lead to risk of damage to the foot and even there may be mild cut or abrasion which may lead to secondary infection due to poor healing. There may be wear and tear of the foot while walking and specially when the footwear is hard or the person is barefooted and as there is less sensation there is not much feeling to avoid the minor injury or wear and tear.

Risk factors for developing diabetic foot

There are several risk factors for diabetic foot and during prevention the main aim is to have a check on this risk factors. These risk factors are -

Smoking

Smoking is the most significant risk factor as it predisposes to both the causes decrease in circulation as it promotes atherosclerosis and also causes neuropathy of foot. Thus a serious attempt should be taken to quit smoking in case of uncontrolled diabetes.

Faulty foot wear

As there may be sensory loss due to peripheral neuropathy, a hard foot wear may lead to more wear and tear and this minor tear can aggravate into a diabetic foot ulcer. Many footwear may cause minor injries and callus formation or any blistwer formation which should absolutely be avoided in diabetics.

A person with flat foot have more exposed area and this may lead to more prone towards injury.

Infections

In existing infections like athelete foot or any fungal infection or a nail infection may lead to serious ulceration due to secondary bacterial infection.

Thus the care of foot is most important as in many case this may result into amputation of the limb. A proper care can certainly prevent this.