More than sixty million Indians are afflicted by the chronic disease known as diabetes. The care & management of diabetic patients is a formidable task for the Indian medical system for such a huge population. Diabetic Foot Care is also one of the most integral yet undiscussed topics among Diabetic Patients.
At first glance, the illness is diagnosed by sustained levels of high blood sugar. It is then accompanied by a wide range of pervasive metabolic disorders that can destroy the health of a patient.
Complications that diabetics may have to face include diabetic ketoacidosis, chronic kidney failure, stroke, damage to the nerves, damage to the eyes, heart disease and diabetic foot among others.
Among sixty million diabetic patients in India, a subset of two million people suffer from a condition called a diabetic foot. Of these, about sixty thousand patients undergo foot amputations every year. Diabetic neuropathy and/or peripheral vascular disease causes chronic complication called a diabetic foot. Hence, the foot care and management of patients with diabetic foot disease should be given due importance.
Diabetic foot care should include the use of specialized shoes with custom made insoles for proper foot support, the provision for diabetic pedicures and also proper foot assessment by podiatrists and physicians, to minimize the risk of developing diabetes foot-related complications.
The use of shoes for diabetic patients is of the utmost importance. Diabetic shoes provide foot support to patients and help to minimize associated complications.
Some of the signs of the diabetic foot include ulceration, changes of the foot shape and skin color, yellowing of toenails, tenderness on and around the big toe, burning, tingling or pain of the foot, numbness and loss of foot sensation and blisters, sores and ulcers that have difficulty healing. Diabetic shoes can address some of the complications raised by diabetic foot.
Additionally, one should practice a daily foot care regimen to address the foot-related complications raised by diabetic foot.
One should leave outdoor shoes outside the main entrance to the home. He should swap immediately for comfortable and protective indoor shoes. Next, one should cleanse the feet thoroughly but carefully.
Cleanse the feet with warm water and antibacterial soap. Take care to clean in between the toes. After washing, the feet should be dried thoroughly. One should dip surgical cotton in surgical spirit and apply in between the toes, to remove all traces of moisture.
Trim the toenails regularly. Moisturize the feet but not in between the toes. Lastly, wear well-fitting and comfortable footwear at home to minimize the risk of cracked heels, sores and ulcers developing.
One should regularly check feet for sores and foot ulcers, preferably with a mirror if unable to check the soles of the feet. The medical pedicure is ideal in such situations as trained experts can help to take care of the feet.
In conclusion, diabetic patients suffering from diabetic foot, need to be particularly vigilant about their foot health. Foot assessments by podiatrists are the need of the hour. One may need a diabetic pedicure to take care of the feet. Finally, the patient will benefit from the management of blood sugar levels, by a combination of medication and healthy lifestyle changes.
