Foot ulcers are among the commonest complications of diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, United States, 60 percent of foot amputations in the US occur in people with diabetes. Eighty-five percent of those amputations were preceded by foot ulcers.
Controlling blood sugar levels and good foot hygiene are important for preventing diabetic foot ulcers. A 2006 article in the journal Ostomy Wound Management describes an association between high blood sugar levels and the development of diabetic foot ulcers. HbA1c levels should ideally be maintained under 7 percent with a healthy diet low in sugar and regular aerobic exercise.
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The National Institute of Health in the United States lists ways of maintaining good foot hygiene to avoid diabetic foot ulcers.
- first, patients should check for foot problems every day. Feet in diabetic patients are often insensitive to pain, so look for any breaks in the skin. Also check for reddened areas that indicate too much pressure in a place that rubs against an ill-fitting shoe or takes too much punishment in running and walking.
- feet should be washed daily to prevent infection.
- skin lotion should be applied to prevent dryness or roughness.
- any corns or calluses should be smoothed gently.
- toenails should be trimmed by a podiatrist if necessary.
- feet should not experience extreme heat or cold and circulation should be encouraged with regular walking.
When diabetic foot ulcers do develop they are treated with surgical removal, off loading, or keeping patients off their feet, and antibiotics. Once ulcers have healed, the next task is preventing recurrence.
Orthoses are inserts put into patient's shoes to lower pressure in given spots and spread pressure more evenly throughout the foot. Researchers at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid in Spain looked at orthoses as a way of keeping diabetic foot ulcers from recurring and preventing the need for amputation. Their study, published in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association in August 2013, included 117 people with diabetes, all of whom had suffered diabetic foot ulcers. They were treated with orthoses for 2 years. Before orthotics were used, diabetics suffered recurrences of ulcers at a rate of 79 percent and amputations at a rate of 54 percent. At the end of the study only 15 percent of ulcers had recurred and 6 percent of the participants had needed amputations. Sick leave was also reduced.
Inserts are individually made for each person. First a plaster of Paris cast is made of the feet, and technicians make the inserts from the casts. They are worn with sturdy, lace-up shoes such as nurses' shoes for maximum support.
With good care, diabetic foot ulcers can be prevented. For people who have had the condition, shoe inserts could prove to be a good way of preventing recurrence.
Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. By making easy changes to your daily routine, its possible to protect your heart, kidneys, eyes and limbs from the damage often caused by diabetes, and eliminate some of the complications you may already experience.
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For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.
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