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Diabetic foot
Diabetic foot prevention care
First of all, it's important to keep blood sugar under control. It's recommended that people with diabetes check their glycated hemoglobin every three months to see if their blood sugar levels meet the standards. Second, many patients suffer from diabetic foot due to severe diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Injuries such as stepping on a nail or accidental bumps may lead to infections. Therefore, it's suggested that patients with diabetes check their feet daily for any small wounds or ulcers, and if found, they should seek timely treatment from an endocrinology specialist. Third, using warm water for foot baths and treatments like local infrared lamp therapy are advised. It's important to ensure that the temperature is not too high, generally around 40 degrees Celsius, to avoid burning the skin.
Causes of diabetic foot
The main causes of diabetic foot are as follows: The first one is poor blood sugar control in patients. Some patients have long neglected their blood sugar levels, leading to consistently high levels. The second cause is vascular disease in the lower limbs of the patient, including arteriosclerosis, with severe cases leading to occlusion and subsequent ulceration of the feet. The third reason is the presence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in patients, which results in abnormal sensations or numbness in the feet. Many patients wearing new shoes or stepping on sharp objects inadvertently can lead to diabetic foot. The fourth cause is infection induced by patients who initially neglect minor foot injuries, or who improperly manage such injuries at home, leading to the development of diabetic foot. Therefore, we advise diabetics to maintain good control of their blood sugar and take timely measures to prevent diabetic foot.
Early signs of diabetic foot disease
Some early signs of diabetic foot disease include a decrease in skin temperature of both feet, such as constantly feeling coldness in the feet, which indicates insufficient blood supply. Another symptom is peripheral neuropathy, which manifests as numbness or burning in both feet, and unusual sensations like stepping on cotton or feeling like ants are crawling. These are also early signs of diabetic foot disease. Once there is a break in the skin surface, it is crucial to be vigilant as it might be diabetic foot disease. Diabetic foot disease is a very serious condition and one must take early preventive measures. At the slightest sign of any skin break, it is essential to seek proper treatment at a standard hospital.
Care of diabetic foot
The care of diabetic foot is very important. In our daily life, we need to do the following aspects. First, regularly wash and check both feet. During washing, the water temperature should not be too high. Also, keep the skin moist to prevent it from drying and cracking. Second, choose suitable shoes and socks, preferably loose-fitting to avoid tightness. Third, be careful when trimming toenails, making sure not to damage the skin of the feet. If there are any sores, go to the hospital immediately for treatment. Fourth, avoid using corrosive chemicals on the feet.
How to treat diabetic foot?
Diabetic foot is one of the most severe complications of diabetes. It is caused by a combination of factors including peripheral vascular disease and diabetic peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes. In such cases, treatment can involve internal medicine, interventional vascular treatment, and surgical treatment cooperatively managed by multiple vascular departments. Early treatment focuses on controlling blood sugar, improving circulation, and nourishing nerves. If ulcerations and skin breakdown have already occurred in the foot, further debridement and anti-infection treatments are necessary. It is essential to conduct an ultrasound of the lower limb vessels to assess for any vascular narrowing. If severe vascular occlusion occurs, vascular surgery may be needed to restore blood flow. In cases of severe diabetic foot with infection, surgical debridement or even amputation may be necessary. Thus, it is crucial to control blood sugar well in the early stages of diabetes to prevent these complications and potentially avoid the onset of diabetic foot.
Diabetic foot VSD (Vacuum Sealing Drainage) nursing key points
If you have diabetic foot, it is necessary to check the condition of your feet every day. When washing your feet daily, observe the color and shape of the feet, whether there is any skin damage, and whether there are changes in local color. Secondly, more professionally, you can feel the pulsation of the dorsal artery of the foot to see if it is normal. Third, insist on washing your feet daily to maintain cleanliness and hygiene. Be careful that the water temperature for soaking should not be too high, preferably not exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, and do not soak for more than 30 minutes. Additionally, trimming nails is very important. Do not tear them with your hands to avoid damaging the skin of your feet; use scissors to cut long nails. Another important aspect is shoe wearing. It is best to wear loose-fitting shoes to avoid rubbing against the feet and breaking the skin.
The precursor of diabetic foot
Diabetic foot is commonly seen in patients who have had diabetes for over ten years, often due to poor blood sugar control and inadequate care. There are three factors that lead to diabetic foot. The first is vascular factors, often accompanied by arterial stenosis in both lower limbs, leading to blood supply disorders. The second is neuropathy, accompanied by peripheral neuropathy, insensitivity to temperature and pain, which makes it easy to suffer burns and external injuries to the foot. The third factor is the presence of an infectious trigger. When these three factors combine, the risk of diabetic foot becomes very high.
How to reduce swelling in diabetic foot
How to reduce swelling in diabetic foot depends on the condition of the swelling. If the swelling is due to a wound on the diabetic foot causing localized redness and swelling, this condition needs anti-infective treatment. It is recommended to culture the wound secretion and choose a sensitive antibiotic; if the swelling is diffuse in the foot, it is also recommended to perform an ultrasound of the lower limb vessels, including arteries and veins. If this indicates poor venous return in the lower limbs or venous thrombosis, treatment to prevent thrombosis and improve venous return should also be added.
How to treat diabetic foot pain
Diabetic foot is a chronic complication of diabetes, characterized by arteriosclerosis, narrowing, and occlusion of the lower limb vessels, and peripheral neuropathy caused by multiple factors following diabetes. Treatment mainly involves improving circulation and nourishing nerves, including performing lower limb arterial ultrasound to assess the extent of vascular occlusion. When necessary, stenting or vascular recanalization can be performed, and treatments including stem cell therapy are also viable options. For pain, severe pain can generally be managed by vasodilation and symptomatic treatment.
Key Points of Diabetic Foot Care
First, a daily foot examination is necessary, including the top, bottom, and toes. Carefully observe the skin's color, temperature, and moisture level, check for edema, skin lesions, and assess sensory and motor reflexes. Second, maintain a daily routine of soaking the feet in warm water. The water temperature should not exceed 40°C, with the soaking time ideally between 10 to 20 minutes. Third, regularly trim your toenails. Long toenails can easily break and damage the surrounding tissue, thus it is important for diabetic foot patients to regularly trim their nails. Fourth, the breathability of shoes and socks is important. It is advised not to wear sandals or slippers that expose the skin of the feet since exposed skin is more susceptible to injuries. Fifth, never walk barefoot. Sixth, avoid using electric blankets, hot water bottles, heating by the fire, and cupping therapy, to prevent burns on your feet. Seventh, maintain proper skin moisture. For patients with sweaty feet prone to excessive sweating, fungal infections may occur. It is recommended to wipe the spaces between toes with medical alcohol during foot baths, and to add a small amount of vinegar to the footbath water, as a bifunctional environment discourages fungal growth. Eighth, actively control blood sugar levels in diabetes. Ninth, maintain moderate exercise. Frequently elevate the affected limb to facilitate blood return and improve circulation in the lower limbs.