How to Properly Care for a Diabetic Foot

Though any variation of diabetes can usually be kept under control, the individual is still liable to suffer many complications. The most common of which include a two to four times higher risk of cardiovascular disease, which includes both ischemic heart disease as well as the risk of a stroke. Diabetes also has a nasty habit of affecting the blood vessels in the body, particularly the ones in the person’s feet.

For this reason, a diabetic patient must take special care of his or her feet. Any small sore or cut may evolve into ulcers that may, if left untreated, lead to the amputation of the affected member. Additionally, according to Baker Machhadieh, MD, of the Kettering Physician Network Endocrinology and Diabetes in Hamilton, a diabetic patient can frequently lose some sensation in their feet, which can make small cuts or bruises go unnoticed, resulting in complications which can lead to infections and eventual amputations.

Even though these lesions or injuries can appear in any part of the foot, Dr. Machhadieh states that they are more common in the ball of the foot, below the big toe, or at the top or near the sides of the foot. Actions such as wearing smaller shoe sizes, using rough socks that rub against the skin, or simply stubbing the toe against hard surfaces may lead to one of such lesions. Luckily, in these cases, the cure lies not in the treatment of the condition itself, but in preventing it entirely.

Besides being one of the rising diseases of the 21st century, diabetes has been one of the most complicated conditions to treat since its inception. Its symptoms date back to the ancient Egyptians, where it has been observed in several of their manuscripts as a “condition that entails an unusually large amount of urination”. Though the term was formally used back in the 3rd century, the above evidence suggests that diabetes has been a part of the human condition ever since we evolved from our ancestors, or possibly even earlier than that.

There are 2 types of diabetes, each with its own mechanisms, though both with similar symptoms and consequences. The first one, named type 1 diabetes, is essentially an autoimmune disease, as the decrease in insulin levels is caused by the body’s own immune system targeting and destroying the insulin-producing pancreatic cells. As a result, the body’s production of the hormone abruptly comes to a halt, rendering the patient completely dependent on insulin shots in order to keep their blood glucose levels under control. Though the causes of the onset of this disease remain unknown, a relation has been established between certain factors which might trigger its onset, among which we can find both environmental and genetic elements. This version of diabetes is, by far, the most aggressive, as insulin production ceases immediately after the cells have been destroyed, and the person must rely on the aforementioned insulin shots in order to stay healthy.

In stark contrast, type 2 diabetes is a variation of the disease brought about mostly by the person’s lifestyle, which often includes the abuse of certain meals which overexert insulin-producing cells. Excessive sugary meals and soft drinks can tax the pancreas to a point where it literally can’t keep up with the person’s glucose intake. Consequently, the pancreatic cells begin wearing down at an accelerated rate, until they eventually fail to produce enough insulin to cover the amount of sugar the person is ingesting. At this point, the person must rely on medication, as well as undergo a lifestyle change in order to properly keep his or her blood sugar levels in control. Though these individuals don’t always require insulin shots or medication in order to keep glucose levels in check, they might need them if they can’t reduce said levels via alternative means such as adopting healthy eating habits and exercising frequently. That being said, type 2 diabetes usually manifests during the person’s adult years, the rise in childhood obesity has also steadily increased the incidence of the disease in youths. As people in developed countries have increased access to sugary treats and highly-processed meals, it is estimated that the incidence of the disease will continue growing in the following years, affecting individuals at earlier stages of their lives as time passes.

Here are some tips to properly care for a diabetic foot.