Diabetes is the
loss of normal control of blood sugar levels. There are multiple complications of diabetes which affect many systems
and areas of the body, including your feet.
In fact, foot
complications result in more hospitalisations than any of the other
complications to the eyes, kidneys or heart combined. We know that with regular checks and taking care of yourself, these complications can be dramatically reduced and your quality of life increased.
Two problems can
occur with your feet, with your vascular system (blood flow) and with your neurological system
(sensation).
Vascular (blood flow) Complications
Diabetes accelerates the development of small blockages in the arteries,
leading to impaired circulation. As your
feet are the furthest away from your heart, this can cause:
- Increased risk of infection
- Increased time to heal ulcers
- Increased risk of gangrene
What are the
symptoms?
- Cold feet
- Slow healing
- Dry, scaly skin and hair loss
- Painful calves when walking
- Painful
feet at night and at rest
Neurological
(nerve) Complications
High blood sugar levels can result in damage to the nerves, called
neuropathy. This can result in:
- Loss of pain sensation
- Loss of muscle function
- Loss of position sense
- Decreased amount of sweating
What are
symptoms?
- Numbness
- Pins and needles
- Sharp pains and aching
- Inability to feel pressure, pain or temperature
Statistics
- 5% of people with diabetes will experience a foot
ulcer
- Nerve damage is present in 30% of people with
diabetes and causes over 40% of ulcers
- Gangrene is 17 times more common
- 2800 amputations (4% of the diabetes population)
are performed each year on people with diabetes
- Amputation is 15 times more common in people with
diabetes. They make up half of the lower
limb amputations
- The survival rate after 3 years of those who have
undergone a lower limb amputation is 50%
- A minor tissue injury was the pivotal in 86%
of amputation cases
- Foot care screening in podiatry clinics reduces the
rates of amputation by 50%
How can I help?
To prevention
any complications:
- The main goal is to protect your feet from injury
- Check your feet daily and if you find blisters,
scratches clean and dress them. If you
are worried, let us check them for you
- Cut toenails straight across
- If you find corns and callouses, make an
appointment with us so they can be treated properly as corns and callous can
turn into wounds if not addressed. Avoid
using commercial corn plasters, they containing acid and can burn you creating
a bigger problem
- Use a moisturising cream daily on your feet (sorbelene
or vitamin E cream) to avoid the skin cracking
- Avoid talcum powder to absorb sweat, it clumps up making
a perfect breeding ground for tinea, try methylated spirits instead
- Never walk barefoot outside
- Have shoes fitted properly in the afternoon when
your feet are the biggest
- Wear socks or stockings to prevent rubbing. Try to get natural fibres such as wool and
cotton, they will breathe
- Avoid extreme temperatures, (hot baths, heaters or
fires) you may not realise that you are being burnt
- Visit your podiatrist yearly for a foot assessment
to check your feeling and blood flow
