Foot problems in Diabetes
With diabetes you are likely to develop foot complications. Diabetes can reduce the blood supply to your feet (ischemia) and also can cause loss of sensation (neuropathy). Regular visits to podiatrist, proactive monitoring and education are highly effective measures in prevention and early detection of foot problems.
Take look at the foot problems that can occur in people with unmanaged or poorly managed diabetes and how to manage these effects.
Foot symptoms of diabetes vary from person to person and may depend on the specific issues a person is experiencing at the time.
However, symptoms might include:
- a loss of feeling
- numbness or tingling sensation
- blisters or other wounds without pain
- skin discoloration and temperature changes
- red streaks
- wounds with or without drainage
- painful tingling
- staining on socks
Treatment for diabetic foot problems varies according to the severity of the condition. A range of surgical and nonsurgical options is available.
Nonsurgical treatment
A doctor will first attempt to treat diabetic foot problems without using surgery. Some methods include:
- keeping wounds clean and dressed
- wearing immobilization devices, such as a cast boot or total contact cast
- closely observing any gangrene on the toes until self-amputation occurs, which is when the toes fall off due to lack of blood flow
Surgical treatment
When nonsurgical treatment does not successfully heal diabetic foot problems, the doctor might consider surgery. Surgical options include:
- the removal of decaying or dead tissue
- amputation, ranging from single toes or sections of foot to amputation of the leg below or even above the knee
- surgical stabilization of Charcot’s Foot
- an arterial bypass for peripheral vascular disease, which assists blood flow to the area
- endovascular surgery with placement of stents, which uses small devices to keep blood vessels open
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