What are the signs?

Diabetic neuropathy leads to:

• Numbness in the feet
• A tingling feeling
• Loss of feeling in the feet

When you cannot feel pain in your foot, you will be unaware of a blister, ulcer or cut open to infection. As a result, damage to the blood vessels prevents the wound from healing well. Limited blood flow or an untreated infection can cause gangrene, a life-threatening condition. When gangrene sets in, the health of deep layers of tissue, skin and muscle is threatened. In addition, if gangrene and a foot ulcer worsen, surgeons may have no other option but to amputate the limb.

What can you do about Diabetic Foot?

There are numerous ways in which you can protect the health of your feet. Protecting your feet can prevent life-threatening complications related to diabetic foot. First, ensure you conduct a regular assessment of your feet. So check for any variations to your feet, such as redness, swelling or signs of laceration. Check for warts and the bottom of your feet as well. For example, you can have corns or calluses removed because the thickness of these growths can irritate the skin and lead to sores. You should also trim your toenails regularly to avoid further irritation to the feet.

Furthermore, protect your feet from heat and cold exposure; you should avoid walking on the beach barefoot and wear socks when moving around the house. Finally, remember to move your toes in a circular motion when sitting throughout the day because this can improve circulation to the feet.

Continuous health checks of the feet are critical for people diagnosed with diabetes. Even if you don’t notice anything wrong with your feet, you should see Dr van der Westhuizen for a health check anyway.