Why should diabetics take extra care of their feet?!
Question: Hi Andy! Its important for diabetics to pay special attention to their feet for a couple of different reasons.
Because the feet are so far from the heart, they receive the least amount of circulating blood in the system. Because of this, the skin is not only more susceptible to being injured, but when injured, whether it be through stepping on something, a blister, infection, cut, etc., it will be much more difficult for it to heal because the skin needs the oxygen that only the blood can provide. In addition, some people with poorly controlled diabetes, or people that have had it for several years, will develop problems with nerve sensation known as neuropathy. This manifests itself in many ways. Most commonly, in the form of numbness or tingling sensations in the toes and fingers (again, parts furthest from the heart) and/or stabbing, throbbing, burning sensations known as neuropathy, which is basically damaged nerves. When this happens, the feet, in particular, become very vulnerable.
Its extremely important that diabetics treat ANY skin lesions on ANY part of their body immediately and effectively, because if they don't, a condition called gangrene can occur. This is where the tissue on the part of the body begins to rot because it becomes infected and left untreated, and is especially important with the feet. Not only because blood circulation there is limited is this so dangerous, but if a diabetic's feet are numb, many times they are not even AWARE that anything is wrong until it becomes obvious with severe pain, infection, and/or immobility. At this stage, if left untreated, it could, and often does, result in gangrene. If the gangrene isn't properly treated by doctors removing the dead tissue, then many times that particular body part has to be amputated (surgically removed).
All of this can, of course, be prevented through the vigilant care of one's feet. Diabetics are advised to do a visual and manual check of their feet, especially the soles. This way, if anything is amiss with their skin, they can seek treatment immediately to insure that the problem doesn't escalate.
The monitoring of your blood sugar on a daily basis is of vital importance as it can lead to a host of problems, with gangrene being only one of them. Constant high sugar in the blood damages just about every organ system in the body, including, and especially, the eyes. If left untreated, a person can eventually lose their sight because of diabetes.
I hope this has helped you somewhat. If you should need any additional help, please feel free to email me. Good Luck!
Much Love,
Playmate
Answers: Hi Andy! Its important for diabetics to pay special attention to their feet for a couple of different reasons.
Because the feet are so far from the heart, they receive the least amount of circulating blood in the system. Because of this, the skin is not only more susceptible to being injured, but when injured, whether it be through stepping on something, a blister, infection, cut, etc., it will be much more difficult for it to heal because the skin needs the oxygen that only the blood can provide. In addition, some people with poorly controlled diabetes, or people that have had it for several years, will develop problems with nerve sensation known as neuropathy. This manifests itself in many ways. Most commonly, in the form of numbness or tingling sensations in the toes and fingers (again, parts furthest from the heart) and/or stabbing, throbbing, burning sensations known as neuropathy, which is basically damaged nerves. When this happens, the feet, in particular, become very vulnerable.
Its extremely important that diabetics treat ANY skin lesions on ANY part of their body immediately and effectively, because if they don't, a condition called gangrene can occur. This is where the tissue on the part of the body begins to rot because it becomes infected and left untreated, and is especially important with the feet. Not only because blood circulation there is limited is this so dangerous, but if a diabetic's feet are numb, many times they are not even AWARE that anything is wrong until it becomes obvious with severe pain, infection, and/or immobility. At this stage, if left untreated, it could, and often does, result in gangrene. If the gangrene isn't properly treated by doctors removing the dead tissue, then many times that particular body part has to be amputated (surgically removed).
All of this can, of course, be prevented through the vigilant care of one's feet. Diabetics are advised to do a visual and manual check of their feet, especially the soles. This way, if anything is amiss with their skin, they can seek treatment immediately to insure that the problem doesn't escalate.
The monitoring of your blood sugar on a daily basis is of vital importance as it can lead to a host of problems, with gangrene being only one of them. Constant high sugar in the blood damages just about every organ system in the body, including, and especially, the eyes. If left untreated, a person can eventually lose their sight because of diabetes.
I hope this has helped you somewhat. If you should need any additional help, please feel free to email me. Good Luck!
Much Love,
Playmate
Because of problems with their kidneys.....their body does not filter and circulate as well, therefore, circulation to the feet is diminished significantly. Also, any infection they have in their body, heals alot slower.
because a complication of diabetes in nerve sensation loss. so if you bang your foot and cant feel that you hurt it, you could end up with a really serious infection and not even know it.
Because of neuropathy, diabetics have a harder time with blood circulation and with the feet being the furthest from heart it's harder for blood to get down there. Diabetics have to keep a close eye on their feet or else they could be losing some toes and a foot or two.
Because;
Due to poor blood circulation they have a loss of feeling in the lower extremities and can therefore bump their feet quite easy and not feel it.
I know an old woman who could not feel her self actually burning blisters while her feet were on a warm water bottle.
The blisters never healed and she lost a toe on one foot and three toes on the other....
Amputations.
yep what Michelle said
Hi ,
Diabetics should take extra care because anu injury may lead to Gangraine, which is quite harmful as it may lead to amputation of the particular area which is injured....
Regards
Bubbles
Diabetes Mellitus is a condition, which if untreated or unmanaged properly, can lead to multi-organ complications. One complication is loss of sensation called "Diabetic neuropathy". People with severe, unmanaged diabetes are advised NOT to wear tight-fitting shoes/slippers/footwear because they might not feel sensation in their feet. When this happens these patients might not realize if they have developed "injuries" like wounds (due to pressure of tight-fitting shoes). And wounds of diabetic patients heal rather slow. And this could get infected. And might lead to a devastating complication called "Daibetic foot" which, if so severe, may need amputation. That's why they're advised to take extra care of their feet, to avoid this complication. -dennisMD
Diabetes causes a decrease in circulation (venous stasis) in the periphery and also nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy). These two conditions combined increase the diabetic's risk of having problems with their feet.
The neuropathy causes a decreased sensation in the peripheral body parts ... the most peripheral of which are the feet. This puts the diabetic at more risk for undetected foot injury. Once there is an injury, the decreased circulation also decreases the body's ability to heal ... by not allowing the toxins or bacteria to be filtered out of the body ... Also, the increased sugar content of the diabetic's blood is a perfect medium for bacteria to grow.
Failure to detect these injuries (or even things as seemingly benign as calluses or ingrown toenails) can lead to infection, gangrene.
The bad thing is once an infection starts antibiotics only do so much, as there is limited circulation to the feet. Tissue death occurs because of lack of oxygen ... oxygenated blood cannnot reach the feet because of decreased circulation. When tissue death occurs there is usually only one option left ... amputation.
Foot care is crucial and important to a diabetic's health and it is recommended that at the end of each day, they inspect their feet for any open areas.
idk but it sucks like hell.
i keep on getting presured into wearings lipers around teh house ven tho it is 30* !
Lose of circulation. So if cut or injured healing is very slow sometimes resulting in amputation of toes of a foot. My feet are numb so I don't feel injury sometimes. So check everynite before bed. Good luck.. And keep up walking . Best exercise you can get. Do Nordic walking'. with ski poles or sticks.. Hey if your gonna walk might as well exercise your arms
Here is a possible scenario that was described to me. You can lose some of the sensitivity in your feet. Because of this it is possible to step on a tack or something and get it lodged in your foot but not be able to feel it. If you don't check your feet every day, it is possible that you may not find this until after an infection has developed and that could be very serious.