Diabetes/Diabetic Foot
Diabetes is a common medical condition with over 60,000 people in Suffolk diagnosed with it. There are two types of diabetes – Type 1 and Type 2.
Type 1
- Generic
- Presents early in life
- Your immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin in the body
- Requires insulin injections to manage blood sugar levels
- 8% of diabetics are Type 1
Type 2
- Result of poor lifestyle choices
- Develops over time
- Body is unable to make enough insulin required to uptake/convert high sugar content you ingest into energy. Or the insulin that you body is making doesn’t work properly.
- Requires a combined approach of change on lifestyle choices and medication
- Over 90% of diabetics are Type 2
While there are many differences between the two types of Diabetes, it is important to understand that both types can lead to serious health complication if not controlled properly. The three major health complications related to poor diabetes are:
- Retinopathy – high blood sugar levels damage the retina at the back of the eye and if left untreated can lead to blindness.
- Nephropathy – high blood sugar levels damage the blood cells in the kidney leading to a deterioration in kidney function, can result in kidney failure.
- Neuropathy – high blood sugar levels cause damage to the peripheral nerves in your peripheries (feet and hands) resulting in numbness, tingling, burning or pins and needles.
Diabetic Foot
If you are suffering with diabetes, regular diabetic foot check are important for monitoring foot problems caused by diabetes. Identifying problems early can prevent more serious complications.
Ulcerations: Peripheral neuropathy (lack of feeling in your feet) means that if you stand on a pebble or develop a blister, you are unlikely to feel it. These can then develop into large wounds which can become infected. Checking your feet daily using your hands to feel under the foot or a mirror to look as well as seeing a podiatrist regularly to manage callus and corns can help prevent ulcerations form occurring.
Peripheral artery disease: poorly controlled diabetes can cause damage to the small vessels in the foot, limiting blood supply, poor blood flow to the feet can make it difficult for cut and ulcerations to heal. Having a regular doppler assessment by a Podiatrist to check the arterial blood flow within the feet will allow any changes to be identified sooner and referrals to be made to ensure its managed.
Charcot foot: long term high blood sugar levels can result in a condition called Charcot foot, where the bones within the feet soften and collapse, resulting in a foot deformity. Often the foot present red, hot and swollen prior to the bones collapsing.
Tips for diabetic patients:
- Check and wash feet daily
- See a Podiatrist for regular diabetic foot checks and foot care
- Do not walk around barefoot, always wear shoes and socks
- Keep active and eat a lower sugar/carb diet
- Protect your feet from the hot and cold temperatures