DIABETIČNO STOPALO

At the beginning there is hardly any sign: every now and then there is a feeling of numbness and slight tingling, the skin sometimes becomes cracked and dry. There may then be a feeling of cold, tingling, stabbing pain and muscle cramps. If small wounds appear on the skin, they heal very poorly, turn red, swell and leak fluid.

Good blood sugar control, optimal foot care and special exercises are good measures against the complications of diabetes.
Who can be affected by the disease? Diabetes that has not been detected for many years, or a prolonged high blood sugar level can lead to circulatory disorders, nerve damage and, consequently, to diabetic foot. It is estimated that one in four diabetics has leg problems.

The risk of severe foot infections is 20 to 50 times higher in diabetics than in others. The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that with the right preventative measures and timely treatment, half of the amputations they do due to diabetes complications could be prevented.
The feeling of pain is due to the injured

nervous system very weakened. Diabetics often do not notice that they have a blister on their foot or a stone in their shoe, which means that minor injuries worsen quite imperceptibly. In addition, high blood sugar levels can also lead to impaired wound healing. Very serious infections can occur, which in extreme cases can lead to open and inflamed wounds, which can even reach the bones.

Can a diabetic foot be avoided?

The most important preventative measure is to pay close attention to your blood sugar level.

Even 15 minutes of daily exercise of the legs and feet improves blood circulation and mobility of the feet. Regular foot hygiene keeps your feet healthy despite diabetes.
What can those affected do themselves?

Even if the disease has already occurred, the measures described above should not be neglected. Diabetics who already have damaged nerves, poor eyesight, or poor mobility should consult a specialist who specializes in the care of diabetic feet. In addition to a professional pedicure without the risk of foot injuries, they also examine it very carefully.

Comfortable footwear prevents imprints, so if there are already sensory disturbances, it is necessary to check several times to see if there is any rough spot in the shoe. For imprints and deep wounds, it is recommended to make special custom shoes.
Decisions with the help of a doctor

It should be clarified with your doctor whether it would be better to replace tablet therapy with (additional) insulin therapy for type 2 diabetes.

Wounds on the foot should be shown to a doctor so that they do not get worse. It treats minor injuries with disinfectants and helps with infections that contain creams that contain antibiotics or antibiotics in tablet form. A special dressing can be used to treat larger wounds, which further accelerates the healing process. Uninfected wounds can also be treated with a protective foil.

If the nerves in the foot are damaged due to diabetes, the pressure on the front of the foot should be relieved with the help of special footwear.

If parts of the foot turn dark red or black, so-called gangrene has formed. This means that in most cases the tissue is already completely dead and that amputation of the affected tissue is already inevitable.
Psychological support. For some, the burden of diabetes complications, such as diabetic foot, without therapeutic help is severe. The support of a psychologist can be very welcome in such a case.

Leg and foot exercises

Repeat each exercise ten times.
• Alternately lift your legs and heels off the floor;
• lift your heels and circle with them;
• move your leg as if riding a bicycle;
• alternately stretch your legs and let your feet rotate.