Diabetic foot: symptoms, causes, treatment and prevention
Find out how to treat and prevent diabetic foot, a complication of diabetes causing neuropathy and arteriopathy in the feet.
Diabetic foot: how to prevent and treat it?
Foot pathologies are a frequent complication of diabetes. Find out how to treat and prevent diabetic foot, a fast-growing chronic disease.
Diabetic foot is a complication of poorly controlled diabetes. It is characterized by ulceration or destruction of foot tissue due to peripheral neuropathy. 25% of diabetic patients will develop foot wounds during their lifetime.
The term diabetic foot refers to a weakened foot structure. All types of diabetes can cause multiple complications linked to excess blood sugar. These include loss of sensation in the lower limbs (neuropathy), poor blood circulation (arteriopathy) and the appearance of sores and ulcers.
The diabetic foot is a serious condition that can worsen to the point of gangrene or even amputation. That's why it's so important to recognize the symptoms of diabetic foot, and meticulously follow the treatment prescribed by your doctor.
Diabetic foot is a direct consequence of the neuropathy associated with poorly controlled diabetes. The presence of too much sugar in the blood over a long period of time has a direct impact on the individual's nervous system. Neuropathy causes a loss of sensitivity in the lower limbs. It leads to bone deformation and reduces the foot's natural hydration, resulting in dryness, cracks and calluses.
Arteriopathy is the cause of poor vascularization of the feet, which, with inadequate blood supply, suffer from poor healing. The slightest aggression to the skin of the foot can then degenerate into a chronic sore, leading to the appearance of calluses that are likely to evolve into plantar ulcerations with the risk of infection.
Difficult to identify, diabetic foot symptoms are often associated with :
- Loss of sensation in the lower limbs
- Tingling or burning sensation in the feet
- Muscle weakness Weakening of the arch of the foot
- Non-healing or poorly healing plantar sores
Poorly treated or neglected, diabetic foot can lead to complications such as infection, ulceration or gangrene, and sometimes even amputation. The symptoms mentioned above generally signal the presence of a diabetic foot and should not be ignored. This pathology can lead to painful or even irreversible complications.
It is vital for diabetics to inspect their feet daily for signs of skin irritation, lesions or foreign bodies.
People with diabetes are particularly prone to vascular disease of the lower limbs. The main causes of diabetic foot symptoms are loss of nerve sensitivity and reduced blood supply.
Neuropathy, which causes a loss of nerve sensitivity, leads to foot deformities such as :
- hallux valgus: outward deviation of the big toe, often painful when the deformity becomes severe claw or hammer
- toes: a frequent toe deformity closely linked to hallux valgus.
Neuropathy is also responsible for reduced sweating and sebum production, leading to increased dryness. This dryness manifests itself in thickened skin and horn.
Arteriopathy, with its reduced blood supply to the lower limbs, favors foot wounds and impaired healing, which can lead to infection and gangrene.
How to prevent diabetic foot complications
Several measures can be adopted to limit the risk of injury and complications associated with diabetic foot risks.
Prevention of diabetic foot wounds is crucial, especially for people with neuropathy. By modifying your lifestyle, you can prevent diabetic foot complications.
The main measures to adopt are as follows:
- Wear well-fitting shoes to avoid rubbing
- Wear well-fitting white cotton socks to avoid compressing blood flow
- Avoid walking barefoot, especially outdoors
- Wear bathing sandals in public swimming pools to avoid infection
Daily checking and inspection of the soles of the feet is also a good way to prevent diabetic foot complications.
- Inspect your feet regularly for cuts, blisters, bruises, discoloration or open sores.
- Trim your toenails carefully, using a nail file rather than nail clippers.
Don't hesitate to consult a health professional if you notice any abnormalities, and have your feet examined regularly by a health expert.
Proper care and hygiene can also help limit the formation of diabetic wounds.
- Promote impeccable foot hygiene and opt for a mild soap.
- Dry your feet and toes thoroughly after every bath or shower, and use moisturizing products to restore the skin's moisture barrier.
What are the risk factors for diabetic foot?
There are a number of risk factors that can lead to diabetic foot complications:
- Poor or uncontrolled blood sugar levels
- Untreated foot lesions
- Uncontrolled foot hygiene
- High blood triglyceride levels
- Overweight Smoking
By taking good care of your feet and scrupulously adhering to your diabetes treatment, you can avoid aggravation and limit the risk of gangrene and amputation.
When you suffer from diabetic foot, it's imperative to consult a podiatrist, who will be able to make a clear diagnosis and suggest appropriate podiatric treatments.
There is no cure for diabetes today, but strict hygiene and lifestyle habits can help control the effects of this disease.
Wearing custom-made foot orthotics can help distribute pressure points under the foot and equalize pressure to limit the formation of wounds.
To avoid ingrown toenails, it's best to let your podiatrist take care of the care and trimming of your toenails.
Calluses in the diabetic foot can be treated by a podiatrist to prevent cracking of the skin and the associated risk of infection.
Orthopedic shoes respect the anatomy and shape of the foot to ensure comfort and eliminate pressure points. Seamless at the front, the orthopedic shoe eliminates toe friction.
The removable insole facilitates stepping and offers greater stability.
An annual podiatric examination is recommended for all diabetics. During this consultation, the podiatrist determines the level of foot sensitivity, overall plantar health and the presence of abnormalities such as ulcers or fungal infections.
Over 15% of diabetics suffer from diabetic foot complications. The appearance of the first symptoms must be monitored with the utmost vigilance, as they often go unnoticed and evolve silently. Yet the consequences can be extremely serious.