Diabetes And Amputation: How Can You Prevent Diabetic Foot Problems?

Long-term diabetes is associated with a range of complications, which can include kidney disease, heart disease, skin problems, nerve damage and blood vessel damage. Some diabetes patients develop skin sores or ulcers on their feet due to nerve and blood vessel damage. In extreme cases, these skin sores worsen, don’t heal, and cause severe damage to the surrounding tissue and bone, eventually necessitating amputations.

The important thing to note is that when you see a foot ulcer develop, you need to get immediate care as more than 80 percent of foot or limbs that end up being amputated begin as a foot ulcer.

Which diabetic patients are at risk of foot amputations?

Certain risk factors predispose patients to nerve and blood vessel damage, resulting in amputations. Patients with a higher risk of foot amputation include:

• People with high or uncontrolled blood sugar levels
• People who smoke
• People who have nerve damage in their feet, a disease called peripheral neuropathy
• People who have calluses or corns on their feet
• People with foot deformities
• People with poor blood circulation to their feet
• People with a history of getting foot ulcers
• People who have had an amputation in the past
• People who have eye issues and vision impairment
• People with kidney disease
• People with high blood pressure

Managing your diabetes to help prevent amputation

To prevent any sort of complication associated with diabetes, including foot ulcers, your best bet is to follow your doctor’s instructions and manage your diabetes to the best of your ability. This can include making lifestyle changes such as exercising more and losing weight, or it can mean staying strictly adherent to your medications. As long as your blood sugar levels are under control and in the normal range, you likely won’t develop complications.

Check your feet daily

It is often easy to miss a developing foot ulcer, which can cause it to progress and worsen. Hence, you should be checking your feet every day for any new blisters, sores or cuts that may be red, tender or swollen. You should also check the bottom of your feet and use a mirror if you need to. Checking your feet every day can help you catch any foot ulcers early on.

Wash your feet every day

Using lukewarm water, wash your feet every day and then dry them gently. You should especially wash and dry between the toes as that is where foot sores often develop.

Don’t try to remove calluses yourself

If you find yourself with calluses, don’t try to take them out yourself using nail clippers or nail files. Instead, go see a doctor who will help you remove these calluses and foot lesions without causing any extra damage. Also, do not use any chemical wart removers as that can be detrimental to your health. You can use a pumice stone to rub the skin where calluses tend to form in order to prevent them.

Keep your skin dry, moisturized, and free of cracks

You can try to keep the skin between your toes dry by sprinkling talcum powder or corn starch there. You can then moisturize your skin using a cream or lotion and this can help prevent your skin from drying and forming any cracks — which ultimately helps prevent bacteria from coming in.

Be careful when cutting your nails

You need to trim your nails properly and make sure you don’t form any cuts. If you can’t cut your own nails properly, ask for help or have regular medical pedicures.

Wear proper socks

You should wear socks made of fibers that take the sweat away from your skin. These are often made of cotton and special fibers. You should not wear tight socks as that will reduce circulation to your feet. You should wear clean and dry socks.

Keep your feet covered

It is important to note that you should not be barefoot, even in your own home. This is because going barefoot opens up the skin of your feet to potential injuries.

Your shoes should fit properly

The shoes that you wear day to day should be comfortable and provide the necessary support needed for the heel, arch and ball of the foot. Your shoes should be loose enough that the blood flow to your foot is not restricted. You should try to avoid shoes that are tight, high heeled, and too narrow. You can also buy orthopedic shoes that are especially designed to fit your feet comfortably and are beneficial for your foot health.

Quit smoking

It is well known that smoking disturbs that circulation in your body and that includes the feet. Thus, people with diabetes who also smoke are more likely to need a foot amputation.

Get your foot checked out regularly

If you go see your doctor regularly, any potential foot problems can be caught early on and treated. Therefore, make an appointment to go see your doctor at regular intervals.

Conclusion