DIABETEC back on your feet
What is the connection between diabetes and feet?
8 million people suffering from diabetes are living in Germany at the moment. Most of them don´t know about the consequences of this disease on their feet. Anyway on behalf of their chronic and bad metabolism those people have to fear the consequences after 10 years:
The diabetic foot syndrome is one of them – an open wound that hardly can heal. The Ulcus is the worst case of this syndrome, which may lead to an amputation.
Because of a „polyneuropathia“ (PNP) the peripheral nerves in legs and feet are getting damaged, which leads to a disturbed sensation of pain. Bad posture while walking or pressure points because of tight shoes or even trifle injuries can´t be noticed.
The peripheral arterial occlusion (PAO) may cause the damage of a whole tissue. Legs and feet are with poor circulation; even small wounds can´t be heal anymore.
In case diabetics suffer from PNP and PAO, they won´t notice an inflammation in the toes or at the foot anymore. Bacteria can spread all over the tissue in the leg. The worse circulation is the reason for the slow healing.
Injuries in bones or joints that are caused by micro fractures and a disturbed metabolism, lead to the charcot-foot (DNOAP – diabetic neuropathic Osteoarthropatia). The foot skeleton can be partial or even entirely destroyed. Extensive abscesses with bacterial infections may occur.
Further information
An excerpt from the brochure „The diabetic foot syndrome“ by Dr. med. Karl Zink, diabetic clinics Bad Mergentheim
The damage of nerves (polyneuropathia) causes complaints such like tickling, formicating or pain on the one hand and loss of sensation or pain on the other hand ...more
Circulatory disorder may cause complaints as well. Depending on the extent the patient laments pain in the muscles (thigh, calve, sole) while walking. The patient mostly stops walking (intermittent claudication ...more
High pressure leads to hard skin and calluses and as they themselves cause pressure again the vicious circle cannot be broken. Long nails hurt the neighbor ones and even the bed of a nail can be lifted or abscesses be created underneath while having permanent contact with the shoes ...more
A sore foot should be healing quickly. Not only does a wound restrict your quality of life, but you also take a high risk of losing your foot by an amputation ...more
If you want them to heal, the wounds must face a complete pressure release. Only by going to the toilet only once or twice a night – without using your orthotic aid – your wound will hardly or even not heal ...more
Every patient with his wounds healed up needs a special kind of shoes. Different types of shoes, depending on the risk and foot deformation are worth considering ...more
Like an iceberg, concerning wounds you only can see the tip of them. The damage of the tissue mostly is even more serious ...more
Certificated foot ambulances:
www.ag-fuss-ddg.de
Guidelines to a therapy of your foot:
www.deutsche-diabetes-gesellschaft.de
Diabetes clinics Bad Mergentheim:
www.diabetes-zentrum.de
Certificated orthopedic shoemaker:
www.diabetec.de
You may order the informative brochure (costs are 5.00€ plus delivery 0.85€) ...more
