Diabetes is a chronic disease and causes various underlying conditions. It is important to take care of diabetes to keep your body fit and healthy.
In diabetes, the blood sugar levels are higher than normal. This can cause various complications. Feet are the hotspot areas of diabetes. Diabetic foot ulcers are open wounds that can occur in few people who have diabetes. The foot ulcers if not taken care of can be as dangerous as leading to amputation. The foot ulcers are non-healing and chronic. It is important to take care of the feet especially in case of diabetes and take necessary precautions to avoid these complications.
Top 5 Reasons for Non-Healing Diabetic Foot Ulcers (And How to Prevent Them)
1. High Blood Sugar Levels
Diabetes is a metabolic disease that causes higher levels of glucose in blood. Higher glucose levels causes stiff arteries and narrow blood vessels restricting the flow of blood and oxygen which is important for the body’s natural healing.
2. Poor Blood Circulation
Diabetes obstructs blood circulation that causes peripheral arterial disease, it restricts blood flow to the feet and legs. Poor blood circulation can cause chronic wounds like diabetic foot ulcers which are very difficult to heal and can even lead to lower extremity amputation.
3. Nerve Damage
High blood sugar levels can lead to nerve damage in people with diabetes. People may get diabetic neuropathy that causes a loss of sensation including the ability to feel pain. In people who have nerve damage, a small cut or wound on the foot can go untreated leading to infection.
4. Immune System Issues
Diabetes lowers the immune system that affects the body’s ability to heal on its own. Diabetic foot ulcers are, therefore, difficult to heal.
5. Infection
Diabetics are more susceptible to infections as their body’s healing mechanism is poor. In people with diabetes, a wound can develop into an infection so a diabetic should take utmost care of diabetic foot ulcer.
Diabetic Foot Ulcer Prevention
To avoid diabetic foot ulcers, it is very important to prevent wounds in the first place. Daily foot care is important and a diabetic person should take special care of feet and get regular checkup by a diabetic foot ulcer treatment specialist.
Regular inspection of feet
The diabetic foot ulcers can cause swelling, redness or other abnormalities. You should inspect your feet daily and take regular assistance from a diabetic foot specialist. You should get your feet checked by a podiatrist at least once per year.
Avoid infections
You should wash your feet regularly in lukewarm water. You should apply regular moisturizers on your feet and wear loose socks and shoes to avoid any infection and keep your feet protected.
Control your Diabetes
Having diabetes is not a big issue if you keep it controlled. You should regularly monitor your diabetes to avoid any other complications like non-healing foot ulcers. You should take a diabetes plan from your doctor about diet, exercise and following the medications as directed.
One should take care of diabetes and prevent diabetic foot ulcers and other diabetes-related wounds. If you see any signs of diabetic foot ulcers or infection, you should schedule a consultation with diabetic foot ulcer specialist.
There are diabetic foot treatment specialists in Baltimore and if you want to seek foot ulcer treatment, you should take it from a famous clinic like Podiatry Associates in Baltimore.
In diabetes, the blood sugar levels are higher than normal. This can cause various complications. Feet are the hotspot areas of diabetes. Diabetic foot ulcers are open wounds that can occur in few people who have diabetes. The foot ulcers if not taken care of can be as dangerous as leading to amputation. The foot ulcers are non-healing and chronic. It is important to take care of the feet especially in case of diabetes and take necessary precautions to avoid these complications.
Top 5 Reasons for Non-Healing Diabetic Foot Ulcers (And How to Prevent Them)
1. High Blood Sugar Levels
Diabetes is a metabolic disease that causes higher levels of glucose in blood. Higher glucose levels causes stiff arteries and narrow blood vessels restricting the flow of blood and oxygen which is important for the body’s natural healing.
2. Poor Blood Circulation
Diabetes obstructs blood circulation that causes peripheral arterial disease, it restricts blood flow to the feet and legs. Poor blood circulation can cause chronic wounds like diabetic foot ulcers which are very difficult to heal and can even lead to lower extremity amputation.
3. Nerve Damage
High blood sugar levels can lead to nerve damage in people with diabetes. People may get diabetic neuropathy that causes a loss of sensation including the ability to feel pain. In people who have nerve damage, a small cut or wound on the foot can go untreated leading to infection.
4. Immune System Issues
Diabetes lowers the immune system that affects the body’s ability to heal on its own. Diabetic foot ulcers are, therefore, difficult to heal.
5. Infection
Diabetics are more susceptible to infections as their body’s healing mechanism is poor. In people with diabetes, a wound can develop into an infection so a diabetic should take utmost care of diabetic foot ulcer.
Diabetic Foot Ulcer Prevention
To avoid diabetic foot ulcers, it is very important to prevent wounds in the first place. Daily foot care is important and a diabetic person should take special care of feet and get regular checkup by a diabetic foot ulcer treatment specialist.
Regular inspection of feet
The diabetic foot ulcers can cause swelling, redness or other abnormalities. You should inspect your feet daily and take regular assistance from a diabetic foot specialist. You should get your feet checked by a podiatrist at least once per year.
Avoid infections
You should wash your feet regularly in lukewarm water. You should apply regular moisturizers on your feet and wear loose socks and shoes to avoid any infection and keep your feet protected.
Control your Diabetes
Having diabetes is not a big issue if you keep it controlled. You should regularly monitor your diabetes to avoid any other complications like non-healing foot ulcers. You should take a diabetes plan from your doctor about diet, exercise and following the medications as directed.
One should take care of diabetes and prevent diabetic foot ulcers and other diabetes-related wounds. If you see any signs of diabetic foot ulcers or infection, you should schedule a consultation with diabetic foot ulcer specialist.
There are diabetic foot treatment specialists in Baltimore and if you want to seek foot ulcer treatment, you should take it from a famous clinic like Podiatry Associates in Baltimore.
