Diabetic foot

The diabetic foot syndrome is one of the most serious complications that can occur in a patient suffering from diabetes. The diabetic foot syndrome is threatened by about 400-500 thousand people with high blood glucose levels.

The reasons for the development of diabetic foot syndrome

Diabetes is a disease that damages the circulatory system. It promotes the development of many complications, including diabetic foot syndrome. The risk of a syndrome increases if hyperglycemia is incorrectly treated. The reason for this may be too small a dose of a glucose lowering drug, an incorrectly chosen medicine, or even a patient's resistance to a given type of insulin.

Another aspect is the patient 's failure to follow the instructions of the attending physician, the irregular control of blood glucose, and above all the carelessness of his feet . The slightest abrasion or scratch can turn into a much larger, hard-to-heal wound, which increases the risk of developing diabetic foot syndrome.

Considering the exact mechanism of development of this disease, it should be noted that in a person suffering from diabetes, the level of blood glucose (i.e. blood glucose) is significantly elevated than in a healthy person. Glucose in large quantities circulating in the blood, partially converted to sorbitol (it is a polyhydric alcohol, which is a glucose metabolite), which causes a cascade (a series of consecutive phenomena) reactions in the blood vessels, which ultimately lead to damage to their internal surface in the that atherosclerosis begins to develop at a surprising rate!

Gradually depositing atherosclerotic deposits in the lumen of blood vessels (both in the arteries and veins) successively leads to their overgrowth. This phenomenon is called microangiopathy in relation to blood vessels up to 100 nm in diameter, and macroangiopathy for larger vessels.

If fresh blood does not reach a certain part of the foot, necrosis begins to progress.

Another factor that promotes hypoxia of the foot is increased blood viscosity and the tendency of blood platelets to aggregate (clump) in patients with diabetes, which promotes the formation of clots and congestion.

Do not underestimate the symptoms!

1.Chory with diabetic foot syndrome may have a reduced sensation of pain

This is due to the insufficient supply of glucose of nerve cells responsible for the sensation of pain (so-called proprioceptors). This phenomenon is the result of a deficiency of insulin, which results in impaired glucose penetration into the nerve cells responsible for pain sensation. Inanimate, they cannot react properly to stimuli flowing from the environment.

It should be noted that disturbances in the innervation occur in parallel with vascular disorders. These symptoms are referred to as sock anesthesia.

2. There are muscle cramps, tingling and prickling.

3. The skin of the foot becomes thinner, dry, flaky, heels and other protruding places are full of cracks, ulcers, and there are necrosis of the necrosis.

4. Patients also have an increased risk of developing onychomycosis and skin on the feet

The above-mentioned symptoms may suggest the development of diabetic foot syndrome. If we notice any of them at home, we should contact our treating physician.

Prevent!

First of all, you should follow the therapy with medicines that lower blood glucose. Drugs should be taken as directed by the attending physician.

The glycaemia level should be monitored regularly.

The level of glucose in the body should be close to normal, on the fasted state this value is: 80 - 120 mg / dl, one hour after eating: 160 mg / dl, before bedtime: 100 - 140 mg / dl.

Patients with diabetes should regularly monitor their blood pressure, react if it increases.

Young people struggling with diabetes should have blood pressure below 120/80 mm Hg, older - below 130/85 mm Hg, after 60 years old - below 140/90 mm Hg. Normalization of arterial pressure reduces the risk of complications in the form of diabetic foot syndrome or slows their progression.

Keep cholesterol at the correct level: cholesterol below 200 mg / dl, triglycerides below 170 mg / dl.

Prophylaxis of the diabetic foot syndrome also includes a healthy lifestyle , one should consume foods rich in vitamins A, C, E and essential fatty acids (oil or evening primrose oil, olive oil, grape seed oil), which can protect the arteries from damage by atherosclerotic.

In addition, you should: increase physical activity, lose excess pounds and avoid excess alcohol and put away cigarettes.

"Hygiene" of the feet!

- foot water may not be higher than 37 ° C

- the washing time should not exceed 5 minutes

- use a mild soap (e.g. hypoallergenic soap or gray soap), a soft sponge (after washing the feet, it should be rinsed and dried)

- washing direction - from fingers to the top, circular movements

- after washing, thoroughly dry the feet with a soft towel, taking into account the spaces between the fingers

- application of creams / ointments prescribed by a doctor (no lubrication of the space between the fingers, ulcers and wounds)

- do not pierce the blisters themselves, apply preparations for imprints or stick the patch directly on the skin

In order to provide more protection to our feet, we can use the so-called available in the pharmacy. anti-depressant socks. They are designed in such a way as not to reduce the inflow of blood to the foot, which ordinary socks will not provide us with. This is especially important for people with diabetes because, as we know, this disease impairs the patency of our blood vessels.

Summarizing:

you should use comfortable footwear, try to prevent scratches, scratches, etc. You need to grease the affected skin using the right cream, do not push the foot, do not soak it and do not heat it. You should be very careful to cut your nails and gently remove the skins, because each wound favors infections. If any change in the alloy is detected, disinfect it with hydrogen peroxide or iodine.

Remember to take care of your feet. Control the blood glucose level, follow the doctor's instructions. Let us lead a healthy lifestyle. By using these activities, we can avoid such a serious complication of diabetes, which is the diabetic foot syndrome!