Diabetics Feet

Dr Michael A. Stein, DPM - San Leandro, CA - Diabetic Foot Care

When you ignore diabetes: feet and legs

In an earlier article I wrote that diabetes is a disease that creeps up on you and before you know it, a person can be diagnosed with diabetes at quite a late stage.  I had suggested that those in the high-risk group of getting diabetes should be prudent and look through their family history to find out whether any of their relations have or had this disease.  Should any of their close relatives have diabetes, then the risk for that person had gone up higher than a person who does not have any relations who do not have diabetes.  This is due to the fact that diabetes is a hereditary disease.  I shall talk about other ways whereby a person can get diabetes in another article.

In this article and other follow-up articles, I shall highlight the dangers of diabetes if left untreated and the possible consequences that may result.  I know because I had first hand experience of it as I had seen both my parents and three of my aunts and an uncle suffered from diabetes as well as myself.  I am not sure about others but even though I knew that I am in the high-risk group, I refused to believe until I was diagnosed as diabetic.  I had early warning signs but failed to take precautions to avoid it.

Recently, while looking for more information on diabetes, I came across an article “Long-term consequences of diabetes” by Chris D. Meletis (see Townsend Letter. May 2009 i310 p54(7)).  The article estimated that 23.6 million people in the United States are diabetic.  However, what is scary is that there are another 5.7 million people out there who are not diagnosed even though they are in the higher risk group of getting diabetes.  This is only for the United States but what about other countries?  What are the likely consequences that these people are likely to face when their conditions are left untreated?  This also serves as a warning to those who are already diagnosed as diabetic but for reasons known to them, refuse to follow-up with the necessary treatment.

So what are the possible consequences should one ignore their diabetic condition?  Firstly, a diabetic has to be aware of what diabetes can do to a person’s legs and feet, as it will affect their mobility.  Should there be any wound or injury on the legs or feet, do not think that it can heal by itself.  Even if you should self-medicate, my advice is to be careful.  Or if there is a small wound, do not even think that it can be ignored.  It takes a long time for an injury or wound to heal for a diabetic, no matter how small the wound or injury is.  I strongly suggest that medical help be sought immediately.  Seek professional medical advice and do not self-medicate unless medical help is not available.  But once medical help is available, ensure that you inform the medical professional of your wound or injury.

Like I had said, wounds and injuries on a diabetic takes a longer time to heal.  If not properly taken care of, the condition may worsen and the consequence is possible amputation.  In one of my articles, I had mentioned that my late aunt did not take care of her leg that resulted in an amputation.  Nearer home, my own mother, who was also diabetic, had a small ulcer (wound) on her ankle.  We know the danger of an ulcer and brought her to see a doctor.  However, the ulcer just got bigger and refused to heal properly, even with medical help.  She had the ulcer for almost 2-months before her death.  So be careful and do not dismiss any wounds, no matter how slight it may seem to you.  Take good care of your feet and legs, as they are valuable to you and allow you to be mobile.  Don’t live with regret; take care of your feet and legs now.

To care for your feet make sure that you have proper footwear.  Also, wear padded socks to protect it further.  As for your legs, wear pants to protect them.  In other words, be properly attired to ensure protection for both your legs and feet.

Another measure is to check the sole of your feet, if possible, every night.  What to look for?  Ensure there are no cracked heels as it can possibly lead to small wounds that may go unnoticed.  Use a good cream to repair the cracked heels.  Also look out for any signs of wounds.  If you are not able to examine it closely, have someone check it for you.  This is one of the simplest self-check that you can do.  Do not let laziness prevent you from carrying out this check.  You will be thankful that you had done it as you can detect problems early and seek medical attention.  To obtain more information on diabetes, please visit Diabetes Control

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Clincial Care of the Diabetic Foot List Price: $39.95 Sale Price: $36.18 You save: $3.77 (9%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product

Surgical Reconstruction of the Diabetic Foot and Ankle List Price: $229.00 Sale Price: $201.31 You save: $27.69 (12%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Featuring more than 1,200 illustrations, including over 800 in full color, this book presents a stepwise approach to the surgical management of the most challenging cases in diabetic limb salvage. The book covers acute and chronic diabetic foot and ankle wounds and guides surgical decision-making in different case scenarios, including prophylactic, elective, trauma, and revisional surgery. Emphasis is on the multidisciplinary team approach. Topics covered include surgical reconstruction of the acute and chronic Charcot foot and ankle; local random, muscle and pedicle flaps for soft tissue coverage of the diabetic foot; equinus deformity and the diabetic foot; surgical management of malunions and nonunions; and autogeneous bone grafting and orthobiologics.

The Diabetic Foot (Contemporary Diabetes) List Price: $229.00 Sale Price: $58.54 See Reviews For This Product Description Edited by renown researchers from one of the oldest and most experienced diabetic foot centers in the world, The Diabetic Foot, Second Edition, features established and effective treatments to diabetic foot disease as well as new developments in basic and clinical research. Considerably expanded and updated from the acclaimed first edition, its topics range from proven preventive strategies to cutting-edge wound care techniques that are drawn from new developments such as growth factors and living skin equivalents. Also included are new chapters on the physiology and pathophysiology of wound healing, preparation of wound bed, and new information on the development of foot imaging and treatment. In keeping with the spirit of the first edition, this volume gives the reader a full view of diabetic foot disease and emphasizes the need for a multidisciplinary approach in its management. The Diabetic Foot, Second Edition is an essential reference for the growing problem of diabetes. It will be a great value to diabetologists, endocrinologists, internists, family physicians, podiatrists, vascular surgeons, and orthopedic surgeons in finding a thorough presentation for treating diabetic foot disease.

The Diabetic Foot: Medical and Surgical Management Sale Price: $165.00   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA. Features multidisciplinary management of diabetic foot problems and gives a detailed review of the pathophysiology. Emphasizes the prevention of diabetic foot ulceration and covers new treatments, including growth factors and living skin equivalents. DNLM: Diabetic Foot--therapy.

Levin and O'Neal's The Diabetic Foot with CD-ROM (Diabetic Foot (Levin & O'Neal's)) List Price: $185.00 Sale Price: $148.00 You save: $37.00 (20%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Fully updated, now in full color, this latest edition of Levin and O'Neal's The Diabetic Foot continues the work's proud tradition of providing the best diagnostic and management information for the challenging problems faced by patients with diabetic foot problems. With tips and pearls in every chapter, expansive color photographs, and its focus on team care, this classic reference is a must-have for anyone who cares for diabetic patients!Provide balanced, coordinated "team" care with multidisciplinary perspectives from diverse health professionals who care for diabetic patients with foot problems, including orthopedists, endocrinologists, vascular surgeons, podiatrists and wound care nurses.Use the exclusive Tips and Pearls in every chapter for quick review. Enjoy fresh takes on many topics with 50% new contributors.Find information more easily with a new full-color page design.Meet diagnostic challenges with color photographs of the clinical problems discussed in the book.

Clinical Care of the Diabetic Foot List Price: $34.95 Sale Price: $27.26 You save: $7.69 (22%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Finally, there is a far more practical book on foot care for people with diabetes written especially for the non-specialist primary care provider. Contents include foot exams, risk classification, infection, foot ulcers, debridement, evaluation, and more. All chapters are written by diabetic foot care specialists.

Diabetic Foot: Lower Extremity Arterial Disease and Limb Salvage Sale Price: $179.00   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Understanding tibio-peroneal occlusive disease and its management is vital in treating patients with peripheral vascular disease. Occlusive disease and the resulting ischemia threaten the viability of the lower limb, particularly in diabetics. Edited by widely-respected vascular surgeon Anton N. Sidawy, this textbook explores all aspects of tibio-peroneal disease, including pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and management of the lower extremity after adequate circulation is restored. It examines risk factors, disease distribution, and general management issues connected with diabetic patients, as well as adjuvant chemotherapy to improve patency of prosthetic bypasses, thrombolytic therapy for failed bypasses, wound healing, and amputations of the foot and leg.

LOCAL WOUND CARE IN DIABETIC FOOT COMPLICATIONS Aggressive risk management and ulcer treatment to avoid amputation (Postgraduate Medicine) List Price: $2.99 See Reviews For This Product Description Every year, 7 or 8 of every 1,000 Americans who have diabetes undergo amputation of a foot. The rate may be twice as high in African Americans as in whites and even higher in Hispanic and Native Americans. In all diabetic patients, the rate of amputation increases with age and duration of the disease. Clearly, attentive and rigorous care is needed in these patients. In this article, Dr Muha summarizes risk factors for foot complications and describes comprehensive evaluation of foot ulcers. He also discusses the several objectives of successful treatment (eg, pressure reduction, wound closure) and how to achieve them. Muha J. Local wound care in diabetic foot complications: aggressive risk management and ulcer treatment to avoid amputation.

ANTIMICROBIAL THERAPY FOR DIABETIC FOOT INFECTIONS A practical approach (Postgraduate Medicine) List Price: $2.99 See Reviews For This Product Description Foot infections in patients with diabetes mellitus are among the most common bacterial infections encountered in clinical practice. Unfortunately, these infections and their sequelae are also the most common cause of disability and the reason for most hospital admissions among diabetic patients. This article outlines the factors to consider when choosing appropriate treatment for these patients and provides a practical approach to empirical antibiotic therapy. Shea KW. Antimicrobial therapy for diabetic foot infections: a practical approach.