- What symptoms help to identify
- How the treatment is done
- 5 precautions to avoid serious complications
- 1. Keep your blood glucose under control
- 2. Watch your feet daily
- 3. Keep your feet clean and hydrated
- 4. Cut your nails twice a month and do not remove calluses
- 5. Wear closed, soft shoes
Diabetic foot is a term used to refer to the greater risk that diabetics have of having problems with their feet, such as wounds, thrombosis, infections and ulcers. However, this type of problem is only more common when the disease is not well controlled, and is characterized by symptoms such as tingling and burning in the feet.
Thus, the ideal is that all diabetics, in addition to doing the appropriate treatment, try to prevent foot problems, taking care such as wearing comfortable shoes and not removing calluses, and see the doctor as soon as any change in the feet occurs.
What symptoms help to identify
The main symptoms of this problem include:
- Loss of sensation in the feet; Frequent tingling sensation; Burning in the feet and ankles; Pain and pricking sensation; Numbness in the feet; Weakness in the legs.
Despite the presence of symptoms, most diabetics only realize the seriousness of the problem when a wound or infection that does not pass appears.
How the treatment is done
The treatment of diabetic foot is done according to the type of foot injury and its severity and should always be guided by a doctor, even in the case of small cuts or wounds, as they can get worse quickly.
Thus, treatment may involve:
- Take antibiotic remedies; Use antimicrobial ointments on the affected area; Control diabetes from changes in diet, use of medications and insulin; Change the wound dressing daily, according to the doctor or nurse's guidance; Avoid pressing the area affected, avoiding wearing closed shoes or leaving the foot in the same position for a long time.
In the most severe cases, surgery may be necessary to remove the affected area of the skin and promote healing. However, when the wound is not detected soon or when the patient does not properly treat, it may be necessary to amputate the foot or part of the foot.
5 precautions to avoid serious complications
The following are 5 tips to avoid the main problems that affect the diabetic foot:
1. Keep your blood glucose under control
This is the most important step to avoid diabetic foot, because when sugar levels remain high for a long time, the blood has more difficulty reaching the extremities of the body, and the feet are the region most affected by poor circulation.
Thus, when there is little blood reaching the feet, the cells become weak and the foot begins to lose sensitivity, causing cuts or wounds to heal very slowly and to be noticed only when they are already at a very advanced stage.
2. Watch your feet daily
Due to the risk of loss of sensation, diabetics should be in the habit of evaluating their feet daily, either at bath time or upon waking up, for example. If the physical condition does not permit or if the visibility is not good, you can use a mirror or ask for help from another person during the inspection of the feet.
It is necessary to look for cracks, chilblains, cuts, wounds, calluses or changes in color, and you should see your doctor if you notice the presence of any of these changes.
3. Keep your feet clean and hydrated
You should wash your feet every day with warm water and neutral soap, taking care to clean it well between the toes and the heel. Then, dry your feet with a soft towel, without rubbing the skin, just drying with light pressure from the towel.
After washing, it is still important to apply an odorless moisturizer all over your foot, being careful not to leave any cream accumulated between your fingers and nails. It should be allowed to dry naturally before wearing closed socks or shoes.
4. Cut your nails twice a month and do not remove calluses
It is important to avoid doing your nails too often, ideally doing it only twice a month, so as not to encourage the appearance of nail corners or ingrown nails. In addition, one should avoid taking the cuticle, as it is important to protect the skin from wounds and scratches.
It is also important to cut the nails in a straight line, and the calluses should only be removed by a professional who specializes in feet and who is aware of the presence of diabetes. If calluses appear too often, you should speak to the doctor to investigate the causes and start treatment.
5. Wear closed, soft shoes
The ideal shoe for the diabetic should be closed, to avoid wounds and cracks, in addition to being soft, comfortable and with rigid soles, to provide safety during the walk.
Women should prefer low, square heels, which provide a better balance for the body. You should avoid plastic shoes, thin or tight, and a good tip is to always have a second pair of shoes to change in the middle of the day, so that the foot does not suffer the pressure and discomfort of the same shoe for a long time.
It is important to remember that in the presence of any alteration in the feet or lack of sensitivity, the doctor should be contacted so that the treatment can be started immediately, and that the best way to prevent diabetic foot is to control blood glucose through adequate nutrition.
In addition to foot problems, diabetics also have a higher risk of having genital infections.
