Can diabetic foot be cured?

Written by Luo Han Ying
Endocrinology
Updated on September 01, 2024
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Diabetes has many complications, and once detected, the complications of diabetes cannot be completely cured. Diabetic foot is a relatively serious complication of diabetes. Diabetic foot generally involves many years of underlying vascular and nerve damage that eventually leads to infection or ulceration, resulting in the final formation of diabetic foot. Whether such a serious complication can be cured actually depends on the duration of the patient’s condition, the extent of the lesion, and most importantly, how soon they seek medical attention. For instance, if the infection is very severe, has damaged the bone, or if there is dry gangrene with local tissue necrosis in the foot, then no matter what conservative treatment is applied, it will not be effective, and surgical amputation will be the only option, meaning the foot cannot be saved. However, if some individuals only have early-stage skin ulceration that cannot heal, or if there is an infection that is not very severe, and they seek medical attention early, controlling the infection and treating with nerve nutrition and vascular protection can actually heal the ulcerated area of the foot.

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Written by Li Hui Zhi
Endocrinology
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Is it good for people with diabetes to soak their feet?

Diabetic foot is primarily classified into a level 0 diabetic foot and levels 1 to 5 diabetic foot. If it is a level 0 diabetic foot and the patient does not have any wounds, then soaking the feet is permissible. Level 0 diabetic foot mainly refers to a high-risk diabetic foot, in which case soaking is allowed. However, care must be taken to ensure that the water temperature is not too high to avoid scalding the skin. If the diabetic foot has reached levels 1 to 5, where the patient has wounds and ulcerations, soaking the feet is not recommended, as it can easily worsen and exacerbate the wound ulcerations. Therefore, people with diabetes should consider their individual conditions to determine whether foot soaking is suitable.

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Written by Lin Xiang Dong
Endocrinology
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incidence of diabetic foot

As the number of diabetic patients increases, the incidence of diabetic foot also rises. Currently, the prevalence of diabetic foot in China is 5.7%, which is below the global average. Diabetic foot primarily occurs in patients who have had diabetes for over ten years, often due to poor blood sugar control and inadequate care. Diabetic foot is also one of the three major non-traumatic causes of amputation. Therefore, the most severe consequence of diabetic foot is amputation.

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Written by Zhao Xin Lan
Endocrinology
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How to treat diabetic foot early

First of all, in the early stages of diabetes, it is necessary to control blood sugar to prevent the occurrence of diabetic foot. If diabetic foot has already appeared in the early stages of diabetes, then it is important to prevent the further development of diabetic foot into late-stage ulceration and gangrene. Firstly, proper care should be taken to avoid damage to the skin. Secondly, it is crucial to control blood sugar, complete examination of lower limb vascular ultrasonography or angiography, ascertain the extent of lower limb vascular lesions, and improve blood circulation. If there is an occlusion of the blood vessels in the lower limbs, surgical methods should be used as soon as possible to open the vessels and maintain blood supply, to prevent further deterioration.

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Written by Li Hui Zhi
Endocrinology
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What are the symptoms of diabetic foot infection?

Symptoms of diabetic foot infections can include localized gradual wound ulceration, suppuration, and odor. In severe cases, patients may observe necrosis of the foot with a dark color. Some patients may experience systemic effects, including fever. Therefore, the progression of diabetic foot can be rapid. It is recommended that diabetic patients seek medical attention promptly when they notice any wound ulceration to prevent worsening of the infection.

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Written by Lin Xiang Dong
Endocrinology
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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.