Diabetes and Foot Problems

It is not unusual for people to associate diabetics with foot problems. Perhaps the reason for this is that foot problems are highly visible and easy to observe. Foot problems are also among the most common pernicious side effects of diabetes. Thus diabetics, more than anybody else, must threat their foot problems early enough as these complications can lead to graver conditions.

Foot problems caused by diabetes arise from what is called neuropathy. If unchecked for long periods of time, high blood sugar levels among diabetics take their toll on their central and other parts of the nervous systems. The most adversely affected among them are the nerves in the diabetics' feet. Nerves in the foot area are farthest from the patient's brain and are therefore most susceptible to damage. Diabetics can sometimes injure parts of their feet and feel no pain from it. Such an injury may worsen into wounds or blisters, and they heal very slowly, if they heal at all. When the wound becomes infected, more serious foot problems caused by diabetes are bound to follow.

Loss of sensation in the feet of diabetics as a result of nerve damage also often goes along with dryness of feet owing to the inability of the nerves to prompt secretion of oil in the area. Dryness causes the skin of the feet to peel or crack, which further make these body parts get easily sore and more prone to wounds or injuries.

High blood sugar levels hamper a person's ability to ward off infection. It is therefore important for diabetics with foot problems to treat their infection not in the way it is normally done by persons without diabetes. Foot problems caused by diabetes are very slow to heal and, when infected, the wounds can eventually degenerate to gangrene. If the condition further worsens, amputation becomes necessary.

Foot problems caused by diabetes often begin with a wound on the diabetics' toe. The wound cracks and bleeds. The wounded person treats the wound, applies bandage around it, and hopes it heals. The wound hardly heals and soon gets infected. He sees a doctor who proceeds to address the wound with antibiotics. In some cases the procedure may work, in other cases it may not.

In the likely case that the wound is not healed and gets infected, gangrene may set in. Doctors know that gangrene can be dangerous; it can pose serious threats on the lives of patients. Thus diabetics with serious foot complications are sometimes confronted with hard choices: lose either their life or their toe.

But in other cases the gangrene may have already spread to other parts of the foot. This is aside from the fact that the amputated toe exposes itself to more risks of infection. Thus there are cases when a diabetic person loses not only his toe but also his whole foot. The malady can continue until he ends up losing his leg too.

There is no need to frighten diabetics with these pieces of information, after all, having the disease is dire enough. What needs to be emphasized here is the sense of urgency that diabetics must have when treating their condition, particularly with respect to foot problems caused by the disease. Losing a leg, foot or toe is not necessary. But diabetics must manage their ailment well so that they may succeed in maintaining a blood sugar level that will allow them to ward off infection and neuropathy. The key is for them to follow instructions prescribed by doctors helping them treat their disease.

Common prescriptions for diabetics include avoiding carbohydrate-rich foods, such as those rich in sugars and starch. Diabetics will find the Glycemic Index useful in determining which foods are harmful for their condition and should, therefore, be avoided. They also need to exercise regularly and maintain their body weight. This helps them energize their immune system. Finally, diabetics need to regularly consult their doctors. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels regularly. It is best for them to keep monitoring ledgers and share them with their physicians who should find the information useful when they prescribe medication or insulin. All of these pointers should help diabetics get away from the many complications that unfortunately threaten them endlessly.

Diabetics need not die from their disease. Glycemia is dangerous and can be lethal, but it can be managed. If you or anyone dear to you suffers from this disease, seek the help of your physician and follow what he or she prescribes.