The Effects Of Diabetes On The Legs And Feet
Posted on November 10, 2009
Filed Under Foot and leg health | Leave a Comment
Approximately 15% of all diabetics without proper medication, management, and a healthy diet, typically suffer from high glucose levels, which stimulates low insulin production. When a blister appears on the foot, even a pimple-sized blister, it can create complications for a diabetic. Not only are such small injuries extremely difficult to heal, but they can further develop in a foot ulcer and if left unattended, such sores can ultimately lead to amputation. It’s estimated that 50% foot of those ulcers as well as leg amputations could have been avoided if the patient made some modification to their activities by taking proper measures to ensure that the feet care remain healthy. Two of the common complications of diabetes are damage to nerves (foot neuropathy) and damage to blood vessels (vascular disease). Both of these problems can cause damage to your legs and feet.
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a condition that doesn’t emerge overnight. Instead, it usually develops slowly and worsens over time if left untreated. Some patients have this condition long before they are diagnosed with diabetes. Having diabetes for several years may increase the likelihood of having diabetic neuropathy. Numbness, tingling, or pain or burning sensation (some forms of neuropathy can cause pain) are some of the common signs of neuropathy in the foot or lower limb. Over time, high levels of glucose can cause damage to the nerves and blood vessels resulting in poor circulation in the feet and legs causing insensitivity or a loss of ability to feel pain, heat, and cold and as a result diabetics can develop minor cuts, scrapes, a blood blister, or pressure sores that they may not be aware of. Also, normal sweat secretion and oil production that lubricates the skin of the foot is impaired, which in combination, can lead to abnormal pressure on the skin, bones, and joints of the foot during walking and can lead to breakdown (or splitting) of the skin of the foot and leg.
Damage to blood vessels and impairment of the immune system from diabetes make it difficult for these types of wounds to heal. Bacterial infection of the skin, connective tissues, muscles, and ultimately to the bones ( this can result in getting Charcot foot – a condition in which the bones of the foot are weakened enough to fracture. With continued walking the foot eventually changes shape. As the disorder progresses, the joints collapse and the foot takes on an abnormal shape, such as a rocker-bottom appearance). These infections can easily develop into gangrene. Because of the poor blood flow, antibiotics cannot get to the site of the infection easily. If it progresses to that point, quite often the only treatment for this is amputation of the foot or leg and even worse, if the infection spreads to the bloodstream, this process can be life-threatening.
People with diabetes must be fully aware of how to prevent foot problems before they occur, to recognize problems early, and to seek the right treatment when problems do occur. Although treatment for diabetic foot problems has improved, keeping your feet healthy and maintaining good control of blood sugar level, remains the best way to prevent diabetic complications. It’s very important for diabetics to educate themselves and take the necessary precautions to prevent all foot related injuries. Daily observation of the feet is critical and when necessary, wearing either support socks, or support stockings or both. When a diabetic patient takes the necessary preventative footcare measures and understands and practices good diabetic foot health facts, he or she reduces the risks of serious foot conditions.
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