CONDITIONS
Diabetic foot
OVERVIEW
Diabetic foot problems are one of the most common complications of poorly controlled diabetes. Uncontrolled high blood sugar damages the nerve's (diabetic peripheral neuropathy) and the circulation to your feet (diabetic peripheral arterial disease).
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy and peripheral arterial disease of the foot means that there is both an absence and altered sensation in the foot together with poor blood flow to the foot. This can result in sores or ulcers on your feet without you knowing that fail to heal. These diabetic foot injures often become infected and this infection can rapidly spread to involve the bone or more extensively the foot and leg. Diabetic foot problems can lead to gangrene and amputation. Urgent treatment of the infection and restoration of the blood supply to your foot can be limb-saving. Management by a vascular surgeon can be limb-saving.
WHAT KIND OF DIABETIC FOOT PROBLEMS CAN OCCUR?
People with diabetes are at increased risk for the following foot problems:
- Burning pain in the feet
- Claw toes, hammer toes and foot deformities
- Calluses and dry cracking skin
- Ulcers
- Injuries to the feet
WHAT DOES TREATMENT INVOLVE?
Medical treatment for the optimization of your diabetes. Surgical treatment of the foot infection with limited debridement of salvage of your foot. Endovascular treatment to restore the blood supply to your foot to allow it to heal. This holistic treatment approach is limb-saving and can prevent limb-loss or amputation.
