What is Diabetic Foot? Transcript
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Hello, I’m Donna Robertson, Head of Training and Chief Pedorthist for Foot Solutions. Today we are going to discuss a common pathology known as Diabetic Foot. According to the CDC, Diabetes affects over 34 million Americans. Diabetes is a serious disease that can develop from the lack of insulin production in the body or the inability of the body’s insulin to perform its normal everyday functions. Insulin is a substance produced from the pancreas gland that helps process the food we eat and turn it into energy. Type two, commonly referred to as adult-onset diabetes, is characterized by elevated blood sugars, often in people who are overweight or have not attended to their diet properly. Diabetics must pay particular attention to their feet as they are at risk for developing complications that can lead to foot and lower leg amputation and even death. The term “Diabetic Foot” encompasses a number of symptoms, including: Neuropathy, which is nerve damage accompanied often by tingling, pain, and numbness Degenerative structure and shape of the foot The development of Ulcers Infection from untreated blisters; and A loss of balance while walking and standing There are numerous complications associated with diabetes. Diabetes disrupts the vascular system, affecting many areas of the body, such as the eyes, kidneys, legs, and feet. This can lead to peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) in the feet. In fact, diabetes is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy. Neuropathy can lead to a dangerous foot condition called Charcot Foot, a degenerative process where the structure and shape of the foot collapse due to undetected injury creating a deformity. Charcot Foot can lead to ulcers in the feet that are difficult to heal, often resulting in amputation and even death. High blood sugar damages the vascular system and nerve fibers, especially in the feet and legs affecting both sensory nerves and the proprioceptors (the nerves that tell your body where it is in relation to space, e.g. where your foot is relative to the floor, the stairs, etc.). This nerve damage results in sensations that range from tingling, to pain or numbness. For some people, the symptoms can be mild, while for others they can be severe, disabling and even fatal. Because diabetic neuropathy affects the nerves of the feet, even small injuries such as a blister or rubbing inside a shoe can go undetected. Because shoes are a warm, moist environment, bacteria grows quickly. This can lead to infection, which can be difficult to treat as the blood supply to neuropathic feet is compromised due to vascular damage. Infections that won’t heal can quickly turn into diabetic ulcers (injury into the deeper layers of tissue) which dramatically increase the risk of amputation of the affected area. In the next video we will discuss recommended treatments and how Foot Solutions partners with your doctor to address Diabetic Foot. To learn more, make an appointment with your local Foot Solutions Pedorthist or visit www.footsolutions.ca. Your feet are the foundation of your health. Let us take care of them for you.
