Diabetic foot
One of the most feared complications of diabetes is diabetic foot ulcer. This typically occurs when poorly controlled diabetes damages the delicate nerves in the feet. It begins with reduced sensation and/or burning pain and tingling. Eventually, loss of sensation (numbness) in the feet may be so bad that if you nick the sole of your foot against a sharp object, you might not feel any pain at all. This can lead to a foot wound (ulcer) that goes unnoticed because it is painless. Foot ulcers in diabetics tend to heal poorly and worsen over time because diabetes weakens the immune system and damages blood vessels that provide blood and nourishment to the site of the injury.
If not treated aggressively upon notice, a small wound becomes a large ulcer, progressively eroding deeper tissues of the skin and covering larger areas. Ultimately, the wound gets infected, and bacteria begin to scavenge healthy tissues in the skin, then spreading to the bones and, over time, the whole body.
In severe cases, the combination of nerve damage, loss of blood supply to the foot, and wound infection causes tissues in the foot to die, a condition called gangrene. In this case, our doctor may recommend amputation to prevent further spread of the infection.
Indeed, diabetic foot ulcers are best avoided. So, we’ve packed some useful tips for diabetics to prevent this complication :
