Treatment for diabetic foot should start as soon as the person is diagnosed with diabetes, to prevent the appearance of wounds and avoid serious complications, such as generalized infections or amputation, for example.
Thus, people with diabetes, especially those who have greater difficulty in controlling blood sugar levels, in addition to undergoing the treatment indicated by the endocrinologist, should also have some daily care to maintain the health of the feet, such as:
- Observe the feet daily, including the sole of the foot, to identify changes in the skin. If this task is complicated, it is advisable to ask for help from someone else; Keep your feet clean and dry, paying special attention to the area between the toes after the shower; Avoid cutting your nails too short, so there is no risk of injuring your skin; Wear shoes that are not tight and closed, so as not to damage the skin; Apply moisturizing cream on the feet, to avoid drying the skin; Avoid walking barefoot or with a slipper, as it may allow injuries caused by small stones.
In addition, whenever there is a change in the skin of the foot, such as blisters or calluses, for example, it is very important to have treatment with a specialist, such as a podiatrist or a nurse, to prevent the injury from getting worse and causing a wound. Check all the care you should take with your feet, if you are diabetic.
The main objective of the treatment of diabetic foot is to prevent the appearance of any type of wound, since, if it happens, it will be very difficult to heal. Ideally, each diabetic should have an evaluation at the health center or hospital, with a nurse or doctor, to find out what their risk of developing wounds that do not heal. This can also be known as a test for peripheral diabetic neuropathy.
How to treat a diabetic foot wound
If there is already a wound on the foot, it is very important to properly treat this injury, as healing is much more complicated and there is an increased risk of infections at the site, which can end up affecting the entire foot and leading to the need for amputation.
The best way to heal the wound is to go to the hospital, to be evaluated and treated by a health professional. Usually, it is necessary to make the dressing daily or every 2 days, and it must be done by a nurse, who will evaluate the place and adapt the type of dressing to the tissues present in the wound.
Sometimes, in addition to dressing, the nurse may need to remove pieces of dead tissue with a scalpel to facilitate healing. This technique is known as debridement and usually does not cause pain, since the removed tissues are no longer sensitive.
The constant evaluation of a nurse also allows early signs of infection to be identified, and antibiotic ointments can be used on the wound to prevent it from spreading. However, if the infection is already a little more serious, the nurse can refer to the doctor to start using an oral antibiotic, for example.
Care during wound treatment
The care during the treatment of the diabetic foot wound should be similar to that when there is no wound, however, the most important factor is to try to reduce the pressure on the wound, as it prevents the correct blood circulation in the place and delays healing.
So, in addition to avoiding wearing tight shoes, you should also avoid socks that can tighten the place or even stand for a long time, for example.
