Is your body trying to warn you? Early signs of diabetic foot you should never ignore- The Week

You must have heard from people about the term ‘Diabetic Foot’, due to which patients had to have a part of their foot amputated.

Sometimes, due to a lack of proper treatment of the condition, the entire foot has to be amputated. About nine out of a hundred people with diabetes in our country lose their feet.

What is a ‘Diabetic Foot’?

If you have severe pain and a tingling sensation in your feet or there is a burning sensation in the soles, then you are a victim of the condition.

Other symptoms include blisters on the feet and a delay in the healing of a wound, even after taking medication. If the color of the toes of your foot has changed and has gradually started turning black,  you have developed a ‘Diabetic Foot’.

For example, if you slip and fall somewhere or sprain your foot, and after a few days you feel that the shape and texture of the foot has changed, and there is almost no pain while walking but the foot has become a little crooked, and bunions or corns have formed on one side of the foot or red marks have appeared at the place of pressure. Then your “Diabetic Foot” has reached its last stage. This condition is called “Charcot Foot” in medical terms.

What is the first major reason for the development of ‘Diabetic Foot’?

One of the biggest reasons is neuropathy. It causes the development of the condition in two ways. On one hand, it weakens the muscles of the feet, due to which unnecessary pressure is exerted on the bones of the feet and the skin starts becoming thin at the pressure point and as a result, along with pain and tingling in the feet, wounds also start developing on the feet.

Due to pressure, corns begin to form on the feet. The second major disadvantage of neuropathy is that the skin of the feet and legs becomes excessively dry, because the glands that produce sweat and make the skin smooth stop working properly, as a result of which cracks and pits appear in the skin and finally, wounds start forming on the feet slowly.

The second major cause of ‘Diabetic Foot’ is the reduction in blood supply.

In a diabetic patient, there is a continuous accumulation of fat and calcium in the walls of the blood vessels of the feet. This leads to a decrease in blood supply.

The decreased blood supply causes two types of damage to the feet. First, the skin of the feet and legs does not get sufficient blood, and in such a condition, along with pain, the colour of the skin starts changing. The second damage is that due to a lack of blood supply to the muscles of the feet and legs, there is unbearable pain in the feet while walking. If there is a delay in treatment, then gradually the toes and fingers start turning black.

What can be done?

Consult an experienced vascular surgeon and get the condition treated without wasting time. Some important tests are required. Such as X-ray of the foot, Doppler test and CT Angiography. ‘Diabetic Foot Scan’ has to be done to check neuropathy and identify pressure areas on the soles. The correct treatment procedure is determined on the basis of the results of all these tests.

What is the treatment modality in a ‘Diabetic Foot’?

If a diabetic patient has a wound or a smelly infection on his foot, then firstly, all the pus and infection have to be cleaned through surgery to prevent the infection from spreading further. Medicines are given to control the infection. At the same time, angiography of the foot is done to check the present status of blood flow in the leg and foot.

If there is a blockade in the blood vessels, then angioplasty and stenting are done to increase the blood flow in the foot, as this will help in the healing process. Often, the help of a special type of dressing (VAC dressing) is taken. Sometimes skin grafting is done to heal the wound quickly. An attempt is made to save the foot or toes from being amputated.

Prevention is more important than treatment

Every diabetic patient must try their best not to become a victim of the condition. That is why its prevention is more important than its treatment. Always avoid wearing chappals, sandals and slippers, either at home or outside. Always use cotton socks and soft shoes during the day. Never wear shoes without socks. Never walk barefoot inside the home or on the grass in the park. Take a walk of 5 to 6 kilometers daily. Maintain your body weight. Keep your blood sugar under control. Remember, uncontrolled sugar level in the blood plays an important role in causing ‘diabetic foot’.

(The author is a senior vascular and endovascular surgeon at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi)

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Buzz.