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Diabetic Foot

What is Diabetic Foot?

If you are diagnosed with Type 1 or 2 diabetes, foot care is extremely important. You are at much greater risk of disability from foot ulceration, foot infection, foot and limb amputation and some forms of deformity. Foot ulcers can develop into serious lower body infections, with the possibility of amputation at an advanced stage. In the UK alone, 100 diabetic people every week have an amputation. Early and ongoing management of your diabetes - with particular attention to foot care - will mean you are less likely to develop such problems.

What symptoms may I have?

Diabetes is a serious disease and foot problems are a common symptom. Early signs may just be a red or swollen area on the foot, but this may progress to an ulcer which fails to heal for several weeks.

Over time, as a diabetic you may develop peripheral neuropathy, which means the sensory nerves in your legs become damaged and the extremities of your body may become numb. The immune system of diabetics may also work less well. Minor foot problems are then easily overlooked and the body's natural defences fail to alert you. Normal skin lubrication is lost and your feet may become dry and cracked and the pressure of walking and running may cause neuropathic ulcers.

Without attention, this may develop with more serious symptoms including discolouration of the toes, signs of necrosis, continual pain day and night, and coldness or lack of pulse in the foot with the danger of infection spreading quickly and even becoming gangrenous.

Diagnosis

Having been diagnosed with diabetes, you should be aware of the risk factors attached to foot care. Managing your diabetes responsibly will make foot ulcers far less likely but early inspection by your doctor is essential. Pressure on sensitive areas should be relieved, any wounds cleaned and dressed.

Treatment/Surgical Intervention

As mentioned earlier, it is a very good idea to receive a regular check-up from a health professional so that any problems with management of your diabetes will be detected at an early stage, and treatment should be relatively simple and painless. The choices you make in living with your diabetes will have a major impact on the risks of suffering foot problems in future.

If surgery does become necessary, it is sometimes possible to remove the ulcerated area or even a gangrenous toe without mobility being affected unduly. In only the most severe of cases, a more major amputation becomes necessary.