What helps a diabetic foot heal?

 Diabetes, the silent killer, causes additional problems in patients. Early detection and a disciplined lifestyle are helpful in minimising the side-effects of diabetes; however, foot problems are often inevitable. Proper care is needed; otherwise, diabetics may end up losing their toes or feet. In today’s post, we will discuss certain diabetic foot complications that might also be making your life complex. Keep on reading to learn moreabout diabetic foot care.

What is a diabetic foot?

The condition of diabetic foot is really devastating. It is related to the aftermath of unmanageable blood glucose levels that damage nerves in the leg and feet. Nerve damage or neuropathy leads to loss of sensation in the leg and you may not feel anything whether it’s hot, cold or a pebble under your foot.

Moreover, nerve damage also affects the blood flow and increases the risk of developing ulcers and gangrene. If not treated intime, a small blister can lead to a serious infection that might even end up in amputation. If you don’t want to lose your foot due to nerve damage, keep a check on the below mentioned signs of diabetic foot conditions.

Contact a doctor if the skin colour changes
Always check the temperature of your foot’s skin
Make sure to investigatethe reasons for swelling around the foot and ankle
If there are any open sores, consider checking if they are draining, are infection free and healing well
Slow healing ingrown toenails or toenail infections should also be checked by a professional foot doctor
Diabetic feet often have dry and cracking skin with corns, calluses and a weird odour that won’t go away

What are the common complications of diabetic foot?

Diabetes can wreak havoc on your health in multiple ways. It is recommended to get proper and adequate foot care, otherwise, you may end up searching for intensive treatments for diabetic foot complications. Rather than wondering, “which is the best Diabetic Foot Treatment near me”, you should educate yourself about the probable complications and ways to keep the risk of these issues at bay.

When a diabetic fails to keep their feet health in good shape, they might suffer from any of the below listed complications:

Slow healing sores and infections
Gangrene and foot ulcers
Amputation of a toe, foot or the entire leg
Changes in the shape of the foot, Charcot’s foot

Diabetes causes nerve damage, which not only makes healing impaired but it also results in a lack of sleep. The tingling and burning sensations can make your life like a nightmare. Sitting in a position, walking or merely sleeping feels like a difficult task. Moreover, if the nerve damage gets severe, the cuts, blisters and sores may invite infection and can turn into severe problems like gangrene and foot ulcers. The infection in a foot ulcer is so life-threatening for a diabetic patient that doctors might suggest amputating the foot to save the patient’s life. Charcot’s foot is a rare condition, but nerve damage can also shift the feet and toe bones and you may have to live with an odd shaped foot.

How to treat diabetic foot conditions?

When someone is diagnosed with unmanaged blood glucose levels, checking the feet every day becomes mandatory. You need to check your feet every day for any of the signs of diabetic foot listed earlier in this post. In addition to this, a rigorous foot care plan is also recommended to keep the risk of foot ulcers minimal. Here is what you can do to your diabetic foot quickly:

Self-check: Use a magnifying mirror, sit in a comfortable position and choose an area with adequate natural light to check for any signs of redness, swelling or hint of infections.
Hygiene: A rigorous washing routine is essential to minimise the risk of severe infections. Avoid using extremely hot water to wash the legs. Resist soaking your feet and carefully pat dry the skin after washing. Use a limited amount of moisturiser and keep the areas between the toes dry to reduce the risk of infections.
Footwear: Pick moisture wicking socks and footwear with ample room in them. Ill-fitted shoes may cut the blood flow to the toes. The right shape and size of shoes can be purchased after a consultation with a foot doctor.
Corns and calluses: Diabetes slows down the healing of cuts and nicks, therefore resist the urge of cutting the corns. Gently rub the area after a shower and apply over the counter corn removal products. Ifyou are not sure about how to take care of corn and calluses, you may book an appointment at a podiatrist’s clinic.
Toenails: The dangerfor a diabetic is trimming the toenails extremely short. Cut straight across the nail, avoid cutting the corners asyou may end up clipping the skin. Any sort of injury to the foot skin might lead to diabetic foot complications.To be on the safe side, schedule a nail clipping session with afoot doctor.

Apart from the above mentioned self-care tips, it is highly recommended to regularly get your feet checked by a professional. A thorough foot exam includes an in-depth assessment of nerve damage and circulation damage. Annual check-ups are essential to let the podiatrist assess the amount of nerve damage in your feet. Along with the assessment of loss of sensation, you can seek guidance forfoot pain treatment, diabetic education, footwear guidance and self-care tips from a foot doctor.

Conclusion

A specialist in Diabetic Foot in Noosa can be your best bet to heal complications. Regular visits to a podiatrist’s office are recommended to manage your blood flow and nerve related problems. Book a consultation at Suncoast Podiatry, who offer the best Diabetic Foot ulcer treatment in Noosa.

https://www.suncoastpodiatry.com.au/book-appointment/