Diabetic Complications and Amputation Prevention
People with diabetes are prone to having foot problems, often because of two complications of diabetes: nerve damage (neuropathy) and poor circulation. Neuropathy causes loss of feeling in your feet, taking away your ability to feel pain and discomfort, so you may not detect an injury or irritation.
Diabetic Foot Care Guidelines
Diabetes can be dangerous to your feet – even a small cut can produce serious consequences. Diabetes may cause nerve damage that takes away the feeling in your feet. Diabetes may also reduce blood flow to the feet, making it harder to heal an injury or resist infection. Because of these problems, you must inspect your feet daily.
Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by diabetes. When it affects the arms, hands, legs, and feet it is known as diabetic peripheral neuropathy. This condition is different from peripheral arterial disease (poor circulation), which affects blood vessels rather than nerves.
Diabetic Shoes
Shoes for diabetic patients are made with special protective inserts and soft shoe materials to accommodate for conditions such as neuropathy (numb feet), poor circulation, and foot deformities (bunions, hammertoes, etc.). These shoes help decrease the chance of foot sores (ulcers) which can be caused by friction or pressure.
MRSA Infection of the Foot
Staphylococcus aureus is a type of bacteria that can be spread through skin or open wound contact and is known to cause serious illness and infection. Certain types of staph bacteria, such as drug-resistant MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), have become increasingly common and pose a serious threat, especially to diabetic patients.
Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D.)
Commonly referred to as ‘poor circulation,’ Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D.) is the restriction of blood flow in the arteries of the leg. When arteries become narrowed by plaque—accumulations of cholesterol and other materials—it reduces oxygen and nutrient delivery, increasing the risk of ulcers and infections in the feet.
Soft Tissue Biopsy
A soft tissue biopsy is the removal and microscopic examination of a small sample of soft tissue for diagnostic purposes. Soft tissue includes skin, fat, muscle, and tendons that surround or support other tissues or organs. It helps determine the nature of suspicious lesions or ulcers, which is especially critical in diabetic patients.