GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT DIABETESDiabetes mellitus (diabetes) is a condition in which the blood sugar balance is disturbed. In both diabetes diagnosed at a young age and in diabetes of the developing age, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin. The body may also be insufficiently sensitive to insulin.
Treatment for diabetes focuses on regulating blood sugar levels within certain limits through dietary guidelines, sometimes in combination with tablets or insulin administration. Treatment is necessary to prevent the symptoms of diabetes, but also to reduce the severity of the vascular abnormalities that occur with diabetes. Therefore, well-controlled diabetes is of paramount importance.VASCULAR ABNORMALITIES IN DIABETESDepending on its duration, diabetes causes blood vessel abnormalities. The walls of the arteries gradually thicken as a result of diabetes. In addition, diabetes accelerates the process of arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). This leads to narrowing of the blood vessels, which impedes blood flow to tissues and organs. The extent to which this causes symptoms depends on the location of the narrowing in the body. It is therefore impossible to predict the extent and rate at which diabetic vascular abnormalities will develop in a patient. However, by being alert to certain symptoms, certain complications can be limited or prevented.DIABETIC FOOT ABNORMALITIESFoot abnormalities are common in patients with diabetes. Patients who have had diabetes for more than six to seven years, in particular, often (40-50%) develop foot abnormalities. These foot abnormalities can lead to serious problems over time.
Because diabetes reduces normal sensation, damage and wounds to the feet are often noticed too late. They may seem harmless at first, but they can lead to serious infections. The infection disrupts blood sugar levels. If foot infections are neglected or inadequately treated, they can even lead to amputation in the long term!
Early, intensive wound treatment prevents unnecessary complications! Therefore, if you have any doubts about a wound on your foot, consult your doctor immediately.
Other symptoms also require expert examination. If you have symptoms that could indicate a deterioration in the blood supply to your leg, it is advisable to discuss these with your doctor as soon as possible.
Examples of such symptoms include:
- pain at night that improves when you lower your leg;
- whitening or bruising of the toes;
- pain symptoms that indicate impaired blood flow during exertion (so-called "window shopping legs").
Your doctor can assess the extent to which complications such as vascular surgery can be limited or prevented.NEUROPATHIC PAIN IN DIABETESNeuropathic pain, or nerve pain, results from nerve damage or dysfunction. This can have various causes. For example, a nerve can be damaged during surgery. Another possible cause is diabetes.CAUSES OF FOOT WOUNDSThe main causes of foot ulcers in people with diabetes are described below:
- Poor blood flow to the foot and toes due to vasoconstriction.
- Rapid development of skin lesions due to foot alignment abnormalities (flat feet, splay feet, hammertoes) that gradually develop through tissue loss in the foot. This tissue loss is caused partly by reduced blood flow and partly by nerve damage caused by diabetes (autonomic neuropathy).
- Reduced sensation (diabetic neuropathy) also leads to skin lesions.
- Skin lesions also develop due to excessive calluses on areas of the foot that are under high pressure, such as the tips of the toes, the tops of the toe joints, the sides of the foot, the inside and outside of the ankle, and the heel.Bandaging Diabetic Foot WoundsOnce a foot wound has been treated, it is important to continue caring for it carefully at home. Below are some guidelines.
- It is crucial that the skin around the wound remains intact and does not soften.
- Water on the wound is healthy. If your doctor has not advised against using water, you can wash the wound daily with plenty of lukewarm tap water. Dry the wound thoroughly afterwards with a clean cloth.
- Use good-quality bandages, which can be held in place with bandages if necessary.
- If your toes are bandaged, ensure that the skin between them does not soften, scorch, or become damaged. It is therefore important that your toes are not pressed together but kept as far apart as possible. You can do this by placing a thin piece of gauze between your toes. |
