What is Diabetic Foot, Symptoms and Treatment

Diabetic Foot

Diabetes is one of the most common diseases in the society, can have more than one result in people with the disease. Diabetic foot is the name given to chronic standing wounds in cases where the disease of a diabetic patient lasts for a long time or when the sugar level becomes difficult to control. In this case, standing wounds or infections may develop. If the treatment is not good, it is possible for the patient to lose his foot or his complete leg. Diabetic foot amputation is a common result. Thanks to the developing technology, new treatment methods and new medicines, blood and sugar levels are now more controllable than before, and thus, death complications of diabetes are encountered even less. 1 out of every 5 diabetic patients apply to hospitals for foot problems. Foot problems are seen in 7 out of every 10 diabetic patients and diabetic foot wounds occur.

What Is Diabetic Foot?

Diabetics are adversely affected throughout their lives due to standing wounds. A foot problem that a normal person experiences and overcomes in a short time, such as ingrown toenails, a person with diabetes has to live under very difficult conditions. These wounds can cause diabetic foot ulcers. When a diabetic patient sees symptoms such as burning, loss of sensation, sweating, dryness, numbness or cracking in his foot, he should suspect that he has neuropathy or vasculopathy and should consult his doctor before the diabetic foot wound is completely formed, and he should take the necessary answer to the question of what is a diabetic foot. Because of diabetes, the nerves in the feet of the patient are destroyed or completely damaged. Numbness occurs in the foot of the patient, therefore loss of sensation occurs, even wounds are not felt. Deformities occur in the feet of diabetics and these disorders cause the patient’s foot to be injured more easily. Due to neuropathy, the diabetic foot skin dries out and tears and cracks occur.

What Are The Diabetic Foot Sypmtoms?

Diabetic foot is a disease that occurs over time. It is difficult to understand at first because it does not spread in a very short time. Therefore, when diabetic foot symptoms are felt or started to be seen, it is important to consult a specialist. The lack of regular and controlled sugar in the blood of a diabetic patient for a long time causes deterioration in the structure of the capillaries in the patient’s foot. When clogging and narrowing occur in these vessels, sufficient blood does not flow to the muscles and the person starts to feel pain in his legs or feet during walking. These foot pains increase over time and prevent a diabetic person from walking. Poor hygiene conditions also trigger diabetic foot wounds. You should pay attention to cleanliness to avoid diabetic foot infection.

Why Does Diabetic Foot Disease Occur?

There are many reasons that cause diabetic foot disease to occur. Nervous and vascular diseases trigger diabetic foot disease. Uncontrolled diabetes, smoking of the patient, mistakes in shoe selection, nail problems, obesity, advanced age and hygiene problems are some of the factors that cause diabetic foot disease.

How Is Diabetic Foot Care Done?

What is a diabetic foot? As stated in the title, microbes enter from wounds and cracks caused by the dryness of the feet of diabetics and easily cause a serious infection in the whole foot. Sweating in the feet of the patients also contributes to the development of the wounds, so the sick person should wash their feet regularly with hot water and soap, then dry them. In order to prevent stretch marks, you should apply a moisturizing cream to your feet in consultation with your doctor. One of the most important rules to be considered in diabetic foot care is to keep the toes dry.

If it stays wet with cream or after washing, it can easily form fungus in this area. These fungi cause severe diabetic foot wounds. Another issue is the care of the toenails. Diabetic toenails should be regularly cut at meat level. Nails should never be extended. To avoid bad consequences such as ingrown nails, nails should not be separated from the flesh, but should be cut straight. It is one of the most important issues that diabetic patients should pay attention to for foot care.

Feet should never be in water for a long time and should not be washed in hot water. Feet should be dried with the help of a cotton towel so that there is no wet place. The feet should be massaged to prevent joint stiffness.

Shoe Selection In Diabetic Foot Treatment

Diabetic foot patients should take extreme care in choosing shoes and socks. Socks should always be seamless, wool or cotton. Diabetic foot socks should never be too big. Another important item of diabetic foot care rules is to change socks every day. Diabetic foot socks must be washed with cleaning detergents that do not contain too many chemicals and will not irritate the body.
Pointed toe shoes, high-heeled shoes and flip-flops should always be avoided when choosing shoes. Diabetic foot shoes suitable for foot size should be preferred. Small or big size shoes will damage the foot. Plastic shoes should be avoided and shoes made of soft leather or cloth should be bought. In addition, custom-made diabetic patient shoes can be made by taking the measurements of your feet.

Diabetic patients should be put into their shoes with insoles and replaced regularly. This method will protect your foot and prevent it from getting damaged. In this way, you will be able to prevent unwanted irritation or wounds.

Diabetic foot disease does not only concern one’s foot. It also affects the diabetic’s leg, psychology, social status and economy. Not walking barefoot is another protection method. You should not walk long distances with bad shoes. Apart from these, smoking and alcohol use should be stopped so that it does not affect the blood circulation more.

What Is Good For Diabetic Feet?

First of all, it should be tried to bring the blood sugar level to normal levels in order to strengthen the blood circulation. Ankle exercises should be done to increase blood circulation. If you are wondering what is good for diabetic footed, the most important thing is to keep the blood level at a normal level. In this way, the risk of progression of diabetic foot disease will decrease and it will support diabetic foot treatment.

Diabetic Foot Treatment

It should be done by specialists in the field of diabetic foot treatment due to diabetes. Since it will vary according to the situation, the diabetic foot polyclinic should be located in places such as Istanbul, and the treatment should be started with the help of a specialist. The information you will obtain from the internet will not reflect the truth and are only promotional articles and such diseases are treated by doctors. For the best Istanbul diabetic foot treatment, you can choose a suitable diabetic foot polyclinic from a location close to you.