As of: March 9, 2024, 8:08 a.m
By: Natalie Hull-Deichsel
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Diabetic foot affects up to 30 percent of all diabetics.
Certain measures can help prevent inflammation and serious damage.
If diabetes remains undetected for a long time or if blood sugar levels are poorly controlled, chronic nerve damage and inadequate blood circulation in the foot can occur.
The result can then be a so-called diabetic foot syndrome.
Characteristic features include open wounds that do not heal.
Timely treatment is important to halt the progression of the disease and prevent permanent damage to the foot.
In addition to diabetic foot syndrome, untreated diabetes can also lead to permanent damage to the eyes, kidneys and nerves.
Diabetics also have a threefold increased risk of heart attack or stroke.
Professional medical care for type 2 diabetes mellitus and its precursors (pre-diabetes) is essential to prevent secondary diseases, according to the
AOK
.
Diabetes: detect wounds early
Wounds that can occur on the foot due to diabetes should be treated as quickly as possible to avoid serious consequences such as amputation.
© ninun/Imago
Due to the high sugar concentrations in the blood and the resulting damage to nerves and circulatory problems, wounds can develop on the feet.
Due to the damaged nerves, those affected often feel less pain, which means they do not notice the injury for a long time.
As a result, chronic inflammation can develop.
Pay attention to the first signs and typical symptoms of a diabetic foot!
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To prevent the inflammation from spreading, it is important to recognize the wounds early and have them treated.
Watch out for early signs that can lead to diabetic foot, such as frequent dry feet and increased calluses.
This can result in small cracks and wounds that become worse and may not heal if left untreated, causing irreversible damage to foot tissue.
The result is often (partial) amputations of the affected areas.
60 percent of all foot amputations in Germany affect people with diabetes.
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Diabetic foot: Have the wound treated immediately
If you notice a wound on your foot that is not improving, you should have it examined as soon as possible.
If the tissue is already severely inflamed, additional treatment with antibiotics makes sense.
In some cases, skin or tissue has to be removed or transplanted at this stage.
A diabetic foot should always be treated by a specialist or in a special clinic.
The Frankfurt Clinic, for example, was
awarded the quality certificate for foot treatment for diabetes by the
German Diabetes Society (DDG) .
“It is important that even the smallest wounds are noticed quickly.
Only then can aggravations be avoided, optimally treated and the foot preserved in most cases,” explains Dr.
med.
Henning Samwer, acting chief physician of the Clinic for Angiology and Diabetology at the Frankfurt Clinic, said in a press release.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.