Diabetes has many complications like complications related to eyes, heart, kidneys etc. But the most common and threatening complication is a DIABETIC FOOT. The maximum number of hospital admissions in diabetics are due to foot problems and not because of heart and kidney ailments.
CAUSES OF DIABETIC FOOT:
- UNCONTROLLED BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS : When sugar levels are high, the person is more prone for infections as sugar is a good medium for growth of bacteria due to which infections occur rapidly. Hence it is of prime importance to keep your blood sugar levels under control and avoid diabetes related complications.
- VASCULOPATHY : Diabetes affects blood vessels thereby decreasing the lumen. This in turn decreases blood supply and absence of proper blood supply delays wound healing, necrosis and gangrene of the foot finally leading to amputations if prompt medical intervention is not provided.
- PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY : Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most important and commonest causes of diabetic foot. 60 to 70% of diabetics suffer from neuropathy, many of which are asymptomatic. Diabetes affects nerves resulting in loss of sensations as a result of which patients do not feel the pain of minor wounds and tend to ignore minor infections, ulcers and pus formations which add to the problem which could finally lead to the limb being amputated.
Additional information
The foot comprises of fat on the sole and a large number of tendons which traverse all the way to the leg upwards. As a patient keeps walking after developing an ulcer which sooner or later gets infected, infections travels along these tendon sheath high up and away from the original foot infection.
Complications in Diabetic Foot
The foot comprises of fat on the sole and a large number of tendons which traverse all the way to the leg upwards. As a patient keeps walking after developing an ulcer which sooner or later gets infected, infections travels along these tendon sheath high up and away from the original foot infection.These infections if ignored or not treated promptly can become worse and can end up developing necrosis and gangrene of the affected toe or limb