Diabetes
foot care |
Information
for
health
professionals
on diabetes
foot care |
Diabetes (or more correctly, diabetes
mellitus) is a chronic disease that affects up to 6% of the population
(higher in the older age groups). Insulin is a hormone that helps
the body deal with sugar (glucose) in the diet. When diabetes is
present, either the body produces less or no insulin (Type 1) or
the body tissues are resistant to the effects of diabetes (Type
2). This results in higher levels of glucose in the blood, which
can damage a whole range of body tissues and organs. |
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Why the
foot is so important to those with diabetes: |
The foot
is especially affected by diabetes because:
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diabetes damages the nerves (damage can occur
to the foot and not be detected) - this is called peripheral
neuropathy.
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diabetes also affect the circulation. Poor
circulation can affect the ability of the body to heal when
damage occurs.
-
those with diabetes are more prone to infection
- the body's processes that normally fight infection respond
slower and often have trouble getting to infections due to the
poor circulation.
-
diabetes can also affect the joints, making
them stiffer
-
other diabetes complications that can also
affect the foot, for example, kidney disease (affects proteins
that are involved in wound healing) and eye disease (can't see
the foot to check for damage).
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As a consequence of these
factors a number of things can go wrong:
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Foot ulcers
in those with diabetes: |
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Foot ulcers are a common complication
of the "diabetic foot". They allow a portal for infection
to occur. Ulcers are caused by too much pressure on an area and
the skin just "breaks down". They can occur under corns
and callus. Healing can take a while and its is imperative that
pressure is removed from the area and good wound dressings are used. |
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The do's
and don'ts of foot care if you have diabetes: |
If you have diabetes,
there are a lot of things you need to do to prevent the problems
from developing in your foot:
1) Wash your feet daily (use a mild soap and lukewarm water).
Dry very carefully, especially between the toes. It often helps
to use talcum powder to dust the foot to further reduce moisture,
however be certain to remove all the powder after dusting, as
it should not leave a residue between the toes. If the skin
is dry, use a good emollient - BUT, not between the toes).
2) Inspect your foot daily (check sores, cuts, bruises, changes
to the toenails; use a mirror to look under the foot if you can
not see it).
3) Look after your health
(loose weight; stop smoking; exercise; reduce your alcohol consumption)
4) Look after your feet:
5) Fitting
of footwear is very important. Poorly fitted shoes are a common
cause of problems in the foot of those with diabetes. Some advice:
-
get
your feet measured each time you buy new shoes (foot size and
shape change over time).
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make
sure the shoe fitter is experienced.
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new
shoes should be comfortable when purchased and should not need
a "break-in" period.
-
they
should fit both the length and width of the foot, with plenty
of room for the toes.
-
avoid
shoes with high heels, pointed toes or tight around the toes
(these put too much pressure on parts of the foot and can contribute
to ulcers)
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Podiatric
treatment of the foot in those with diabetes: |
Podiatrists have an
extremely important role to play in the prevention and management
of complications of the foot in those with diabetes. All those
who are at risk for a problem should have that risk status assessed
at least annually (more if the risk is greater). The Podiatrist
should communicate this risk status to other members of the health
care team. Advice should be given on how to reduce the chance
of damage happening, what to do to prevent it and what to do if
something does go wrong.
Regular foot care from
a Podiatrist is a key way to prevent problems from developing
in those who are at risk.
When something does go wrong, see
a Podiatrist immediately. Waiting a "few days to see what
happens" before seeing someone may be the difference between
a good and poor outcome. The sooner treatment is started the better.
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Links of
relevance to diabetes foot care: |
Charcot
foot
Burning
foot
Foot
corns and callus
Poor
circulation
Peripheral
neuropathy
ePodiatry's
database of information on the diabetic foot
101
Foot Care Tips for Those with Diabetes
Numb
toes and aching soles
Find
a Podiatrist
Ask
a question in the foot health forum about the diabetic foot |
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Buy products
to help the diabetes foot care: |
USA & Canada: |
UK & Europe: |
Australia & NZ: |
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Coming |
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ePodiatry is purely
a source of information about the diabetes foot care and should
at no time be considered as replacing the expertise of a health
professional. We recommend seeking professional advice for foot
care for all those with diabetes and all foot problems before embarking
on any form of self treatment or management of the feet - this is
especially important for those with diabetes and diabetic foot complications.
Neither the content or any other service provided through ePodiatry
is intended to be relied on for medical diagnosis or treatment.
Do not delay in seeking health professional advice because of something
seen on ePodiatry about a diabetes foot care or any other foot problem. |
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©2003. The information
contained on this page about diabetes footcare is subject to copyright.
No part of the information about diabetes foot care contained on
this page be reproduced in any form without the permission of ePodiatry. |
Diabetes
foot care
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