What is Diabetic Foot
Diabetic Foot problems most likely occur in diabetic patients, Who have high blood sugar levels or uncontrolled diabetes that damages the nerves and blood vessels in the feet.
The nerve damage called diabetic neuropathy can cause tingling, Numbness, Pain, or loss of sensation in the extremities. However, Any cut, Ulcer, Or blister, (open sore) on your foot with no
a feeling of pain indicates a wound with infection, when left untreated this diabetic infection starts turning into gangrene.
This condition starts to worsen with uncontrolled diabetes. Due to an unhealthy diet, poor physical activity, a sedentary lifestyle, or improper medication.
Because of this, it is crucial for people with diabetes to regularly check their feet to make sure no injuries have occurred. Diabetics should seek medical advice from their doctor as soon as possible if an injury has occurred, such as redness, cuts, blisters, or an open wound, to ensure that they receive the right care.
Causes Of Diabetic Foot?
- Injury
- Obesity
- Poor hygiene
- Heart disease
- Hyperglycemia
- Kidney disease
- Poor circulation
- Poorly fitting shoes
- Sustained Pressure
- Tobacco or alcohol use
- When trimming toenails, causing injury to the skin
Types Of Diabetic Foot Ulcers
These ulcers are caused by damaged sensory nerves driven by high blood sugar levels. Gradually leading to Peripheral neuropathy, a disorder that causes total loss of feeling or the inability to feel pain.
These ulcers develop when blood vessels are damaged by high glucose levels, which reduces blood supply to the feet.
In order to indicate the severity of an ulcer, doctors also use Wagner Grades. Depending on the condition, the grades enable the clinician to monitor and treat diabetic foot ulcers. Generally speaking, the classification is expressed as a number, ranging from 0 to 5:
- There is no diabetic foot ulcer, but there is a high risk of developing one.
- The ulcer’s outer surface is only partially or barely there.
- The capsule, tendon, or ligament gradually gets affected by the ulcer.
- A deep ulcer starts developing with osteomyelitis or an abscess
- The ulcer has caused partial-foot gangrene
- Extensive gangrenous involvement of the entire foot
Diagnosis Of Diabetic Foot Ulcer
Your doctor will examine you physically and inquire about your problems. Your legs, feet, and toes may also be examined by the doctor to see whether you have any blisters or ulcers. To confirm the diabetic foot ulcers, they may advise the following tests, depending on the diagnosis:
Blood Tests: The doctor may advise a blood test to determine whether the ulcer is infected.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination: is used to examine the soft tissues in the foot. The degree of the ulcer’s damage is thoroughly explained to the doctor.
Radiograph: This test is used to obtain precise photographs of the ulcer from various angles in order to categorize it.
Diabetic Foot Ucer Treatment
Your doctor might advise the following diabetic foot ulcer treatment options depending on the diagnosis:
Antibiotics or blood thinners may be prescribed by the doctor to treat the ulcer. A particular ointment may be suggested by the doctor to treat this disease.
Pressure Off-loading: To lessen the pressure and discomfort on the ulcer area, the doctor may advise wearing specific footgear, a brace, or using customized casts. This facilitates a quicker healing process.
Debridement: During this treatment, the doctor removes any sick or dead skin from the tissues that have been impacted by diabetic ulcers. The infected or dead skin and tissues may be removed by the physician using a scalpel, a sharp instrument. Following that, a disinfectant solution is used to wash the wound.
Achilles Tendon Lengthening: During this treatment, the surgeon extends the Achilles tendon to relieve stress and enable the patient to speak without bending their knee. In addition to improving body alignment, this relieves pressure on the ulcer, allowing it to heal.
Atherectomy: In this treatment, the physician removes the plaque by cutting it or vaporizing it. Under local anesthetic, the surgeon performs the surgery to treat diabetic foot ulcers by inserting the catheter into the artery and clearing the blockage.
Wound Dressings Of Diabetic Foot Ulcers:
Dressings aid in the absorption of exudate around the ulcer site while providing an exterior layer of defense from outside pressures and pollutants. Numerous types of dressings are available, and there are also increasingly sophisticated techniques for accelerating wound healing
Overview of dressing types used in the treatment of diabetic foot infections. According to recent studies- Highly absorbent with bacteriostatic and hemostat properties.
- Useful in cavitating lesions
- Moderately absorbent with thermal insulation properties.
- Used in light and heavy exudative wounds.
- Absorbent and aids rehydration and autolysis. Promotes granulation.
- Useful for dry, sloughy, necrotic wounds. Avoid use on infected wounds.
- Absorbent and aids rehydration and autolysis. Promotes granulation.
- Useful for dry, sloughy, necrotic wounds. Avoid use on infected wounds.
- Absorbent donates liquid and aids autolysis.
- Useful for dry, sloughy, necrotic wounds. Avoid concurrent/suspected infection
- Moderately absorbent with antiseptic properties.
- Avoid if you are pregnant, have thyroid illness, or have an iodine allergy.
- Minimally absorbent with hypoallergenic properties.
- Standard diabetic ulcer treatment. Often used in conjunction with antimicrobials.
- Absorbent with antiseptic properties.
- Useful for infected diabetic foot ulcers. Avoid known sensitivities to silver.
