Foot Care When you are Diabetic
Foot care ulcers and lesions on the feet of patients with diabetes are among the most serious complications of this disease, are also causing the highest percentage of non-traumatic amputations that are performed. Being diabetic does not mean that a patient is a carrier of a diabetic foot, as this term refers to a patient with this disease suffer with a previous injury to a trauma trigger that is added to an infection.
These lesions occur in diabetes type I and type II, due to three factors:
* Infections
* Vascular changes
* The nervous system effects.
Diabetic neuropathy and vascular ischemia predispose to diabetic foot infection. The nervous disorders or diabetic neuropathy contribute to diabetic foot infection because it causes injuries that are the gateway for their development. And ischemic vascular disorders because they do not allow antibiotics to reach the site of infection.
Vascular changes or peripheral vascular disease resulting in arteriosclerosis in which the veins fat, calcium deposits occur and the main symptom is intermittent claudication, or muscle pain.
The nervous disorders or diabetic neuropathy affects the peripheral nerves that are found outside the brain and spinal cord. Peripheral nerves are of three types: sensory, motors and the vegetative system. 50% of diabetic patients over fifteen years of evolution has a condition called sensory motor polyneuropathy.
Preventing diabetic foot ulcers
It is recommended to prevent ulcers:
* Use sunscreen on your feet
* Do not walk barefoot
* Do not use Callica
* Correct hyperglycemia and risk factors
* Examine your feet thoroughly every day
* Dry them carefully
* Avoid excessive humidity mostly between the toes
* Prevent dryness with moisturizers
* Cut nails straight across, not rushing to cut nails and file them choose
Diabetic Foot Wounds
Care to injuries depend on the severity of them.
Faced with a flesh wound gentle cleaning is recommended with soap and warm water and using an antiseptic. Faced with deep ulceration and absolute rest is recommended antibiotic treatment. Ulcers with abscess, gangrene of one or more fingers and gangrene of the foot require immediate hospitalization.