If your body is unable to produce insulin or has a low sensitivity to insulin, the condition is called diabetes. Insulin is important because it is responsible for cells to absorb sugar from the blood. This is where you’d get your energy from.
Diabetes is when your body is not able to absorb sugar and this sugar remains in your blood. When this happens for a prolonged time, it causes damage to many areas. One of these areas is the feet. If left untreated, it could also lead to amputation.
Two of the common problems caused by diabetes on your foot are:
1. Diabetic Neuropathy- If your diabetes is uncontrolled, it can lead to nerve damage. When there’s nerve damage in your legs and feet, you cannot feel any sensation- heat or cold. The lack of feeling in your foot due to damaged nerves is called sensory diabetic neuropathy. You wouldn’t feel any cuts or injuries in your foot and it could worsen and get infected. The muscles might not function properly, causing a lot of pressure only on one part of your foot.
2. Peripheral Vascular Disease- Having diabetes can affect your blood flow. If you have a cut or sores, without the blood flow, it takes longer to heal. This also increases the risk of developing ulcers and gangrene. This poor blood flow is called peripheral vascular disease.
Things you should do to take care of your feet :
Wear shoes that fit properly.
Avoid applying heat to your feet.
Don’t walk around barefoot.
Any sensation and circulation in your feet are not normal.
Don’t let calluses or corns develop.
Avoid moisture and sweat to develop.
Don’t use irritative or strong medication on your feet.
Don’t soak your feet in the water too long.
Keep a check on your blood sugar level.
What should you do if you discover a problem with your foot and if you have diabetes?
1. Clean the wound with a diluted solution of Dettol or savlon.
2. Cover the wound with a sterile gauze/cotton.
3. Make sure to keep your foot dry, cover it with a plastic bag if necessary.
4. Get in touch with your doctor immediately.
Horizon’s Diabetic Foot Clinic is equipped with highly skilled experts and state-of-the-art equipment. We are ready to treat any conditions and ensure that you get the best care possible.
Diabetology
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a disorder that disrupts the way your body uses sugar. It is sometimes called type 2 diabetes mellitus.
All the cells in your body need sugar to work normally. Sugar gets into the cells with the help of a hormone called insulin. Insulin is made by the pancreas, an organ in the belly. If there is not enough insulin, or if your body stops responding to insulin, sugar builds up in the blood. That is what happens to people with diabetes.
There are two different types of diabetes:
• Type 1 diabetes – In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not make insulin or makes very little insulin.
• Type 2 diabetes – In most people with type 2 diabetes, the body stops responding to insulin normally. Then, over time, the pancreas stops making enough insulin.
Being overweight or having obesity increases a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes. But people who are not overweight can get diabetes, too.
What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes usually causes no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they include:
Needing to urinate often
Intense thirst
Blurry vision
Can diabetes lead to other health problems?
Yes. Type 2 diabetes might not make you feel sick. But if it is not managed, it can lead to serious problems over
time, such as:
Heart attacks
Strokes
Kidney disease
Vision problems (or even blindness)
Pain or loss of feeling in the hands and feet
Needing to have fingers, toes, or other body parts removed (amputated)
