Men who have Diabetes are more prone to problems of their feet because the disease adversely affects the feet in many different ways.
How Diabetes Affects the Feet
Firstly, having diabetes makes the body more susceptible to infection and less efficient in healing wounds. A wound that is slow to heal stands a good chance of getting infected or turning into an ulcer. In addition, diabetes affects the blood vessels of the body, resulting in poor blood flow to the extremities - and this reduced circulation in the feet delays wound healing even more.
The disease can also affect the nerves (Diabetic neuropathy), thus reducing the sensitivity of the skin of the soles to temperature and pain. As a result of this, small wounds that would have drawn attention to themselves by the pain they caused may not be noticed by the patient. These wounds thus enlarge and get infected without the patient even being aware of them being present! A neglected wound can progress to involve large areas of the foot and even go on to become gangrenous - which explains why Diabetes is one of the commonest causes of foot amputation in non-war ravaged societies.
Pressure and traumatic damage to the feet can occur from nails protruding through the sole of a shoe, a small sharp stone that gets inside a shoe or a sharp object which an unshod foot can step on. Minor injuries like splinters or cuts can become major problems in diabetics.
Foot Care in Diabetes
Diabetics should therefore take especial care of their feet to prevent the medical problems to which diabetic feet are prone. Paronychia (infection at the edge of a nail) is a common problem in diabetics, especially if they have ingrown toenails.
Tips to avoid injury to your Feet
- Do not walk without shoes outside the house.
- Even when wearing shoes, be careful to ensure that sharp objects (like stakes, stones and protruding nails) do not injure your feet.
- Shoes should be comfortable - not too loose and not too tight
- Do not use hot water bottles on your feet - a foot that lacks sensitive nerves can get burnt without the patient feeling it!
- Do not attempt to cut your own toenails, especially if your eyesight is poor
Tips for preventing diabetic foot problems
- Check your feet every day - especially between the toes
- Wash your feet every day with soap and water - and dry thoroughly after washing - especially between the toes
- Keep the skin moist, using lanolin or sorbolin or similar moisturising cream
- Wear clean socks every day - avoiding socks made of artificial materials
- Care for your toenails - do not cut deep into the corners but cut them straight across
- Do not smoke
- Maintain your blood sugar level in the normal range
Sanjiva Wijesinha - Dr. Sanjiva Wijesinha, Associate Professor at Monash University medical school, writes on health, travel and medical topics.
