Both factors can predispose to the appearance of ulcers in the foot. Around 15% of diabetic patients will develop a foot ulcer during their life.
Tips
Diabetes is the most common cause of foot amputations in developed countries, and it is estimated that the number of diagnosed diabetic patients will increase significantly. Many of these amputations could be avoided, as much as possible, if the necessary preventive actions are taken. Below are a series of tips:
- Perform neuropathic and vascular screening: It is recommended to perform neuropathic and vascular screening once a year to check the state and progression of the disease. For at-risk patients, it is advisable to do it every six months.
- Check your feet daily: It is recommended to carefully inspect the feet every day, paying special attention to the tip of the big toe, the other toes (especially on the underside), the heel, and the sole, not forgetting the outer side of the foot. If any chafing, wounds, or redness appear, it is best to consult a specialist because, as the saying goes, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
- Be careful when cutting nails: Cut them straight using nail clippers or straight scissors, avoiding leaving corners, as this can cause injury to the skin. In diabetic patients, a small wound that might otherwise be ignored can lead to an infection. Therefore, it is advisable to visit a podiatrist if necessary to avoid such problems. It may seem trivial, but it is not.
- Pay special attention to hygiene: For diabetic patients, it is important to wash the feet daily and keep them very clean. It is recommended to do this with warm water and soap. It should be noted that many patients lack sensitivity in this part of the body, and not feeling the water too hot can cause burns. Therefore, avoid using heating pads or placing feet near stoves and radiators.
- Dry your feet well, as this is essential, as well as moisturizing them with specific creams, taking care to prevent calluses or corns, and applying powder if they sweat excessively.
- Wear quality footwear with synthetic socks: The best shoes are leather ones. It is recommended to check the interior daily, as even a small stone could cause a wound.
Therefore, extreme precautions should be taken with footwear. Below, we describe the most important aspects of their properties: choose shoes that are not tight or ill-fitting and are lightweight. The shoe size should be based on the width of the forefoot. The upper should be wide and high (preferably Lycra). The interior should be free from seams. The sole should be rubber and non-slip. The heel should be 2 or 3 centimeters. Shoes with laces or velcro. Semi-rigid pillar. The materials used in the shoe upper, such as leather, should be breathable. When removing shoes or slippers, try to wear them in the afternoon and for less than an hour a day. Even at home, you should not walk barefoot but with comfortable shoes. Not even for pools or beaches. On the other hand, socks also play an important role. We recommend synthetic socks with no large seams and that do not tighten, as this helps blood circulation. Being diabetic does not necessarily mean that you will develop an ulcer or need a foot amputation, but it is important to take the necessary preventive measures to predict the development of ulcers. In addition to the tips mentioned above, it is recommended to conduct a neuropathic and vascular study to prevent short- and long-term problems.
