Diabetes and Feet

Everyone should aim to maintain good foot health. It is especially important for those whom are diabetic. As the diabetic patient will know, the effect of diabetes is systemic – or from head to toe.
So how can diabetes affect the feet?
Diabetes can affect both the circulation (blood supply) and nervous system of the lower limbs. This can lead to a lack of feeling in the feet, poor wound healing, ulceration and critically amputation.
Circulation:
Diabetes can impact the circulatory system in the lower limbs. Peripheral Vascular disease, a condition that results in narrowing of the arteries, significantly decreases the blood flow to the lower legs and feet. Symptoms often associated with inadequate blood flow include swelling, muscle cramps and dryness of the skin. Inadequate circulation contributes to diabetic foot problems by reducing the amount of oxygen and nutrition supplied to the skin and other tissue, resulting in delayed wound healing. Preventing foot complications is the key for the diabetic patient because poor circulation impairs the healing process and can lead to ulcers, infection, and other serious foot conditions.
Neuropathy: or nerve damage which results in loss of nerve function.
A loss of sensation, numbness or irregular random sharp pains can be a result of nerve damage. Diabetic Neuropathy can cause a reduced or complete loss of the ability to feel pain, heat, and cold. Diabetics suffering from neuropathy can develop minor cuts, scrapes, blisters, or pressure sores that they may not be aware of due to the lack of feeling. Although these are small minor injuries to the healthy individual, if left untreated in a diabetic foot complications can arise and lead to ulceration and possible amputation.The structural integrity of the foot may also diminish due to diabetic neuropathy. Claw, hammer and other joint deformities can occur when the nerve supply to structure controlling ligaments and tendons are damaged. A direct result of structural change is an abnormal increase in pressure to certain areas of the foot, which can lead to tissue breakdown and thus wound development. Dangerously though, as aforementioned, the lack of feeling/sensation in a diabetic foot can mean that you are not aware of wounds or injury.
Diabetic foot conditions develop from a combination of causes including poor circulation and neuropathy.
So what can you do to prevent complications?
The risk of complications can be greatly reduced if you keep your blood sugar levels under control. Ensure that your blood pressure and cholesterol levels are also monitored and controlled with diet, exercise and the correct use of medication if needed. Smoking will also have a harmful effect on the blood supply to your feet, adding to further lower limb complications.
Prevention is always the key! Keep your feet healthy (see our foot tips for diabetics in next week€™s blog); see a podiatrist at least once a year for a friendly and informative full diabetic foot health assessment, which helps to spot any issues very early and correct these. Contact us on 04 3435390 for a friendly, informative and painless foot assessment, care and advice.
Look out for our Part 2: €˜Tips for Diabetic Foot Care€™ in our blog, coming next week!