Diabetes and its consequences
Diabetes is a disease that is caused due to insufficient production of insulin or low sensitivity i.e. insulin resistance. Insulin, an essential hormone, is produced by beta cells of Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas.
Insulin helps in lowering the amount of glucose in the blood by increasing the storage of glucose in muscles and liver in the form of glycogen. Failure in storage or utilization of glucose, due to insufficient insulin or resistance to insulin, results in increased blood glucose which is termed as diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes entails not an only disturbance of metabolism but also structural and functional changes in kidneys, eyes, blood vessels and blood rheology as well as nerves. Uncontrolled diabetes may damage many other parts of the body including feet and may cause diabetic foot.
Diabetic foot
As a result of persistently elevated blood sugar levels, nerves and blood vessels get damaged. Foot problems among diabetics are largely due to:
- Diabetic Neuropathy
- Peripheral Vascular Disease
Diabetic Neuropathy i.e. damage to nerves caused due to diabetes can result in a lack of sensation or numbness and loss of any sensation or feeling of pain in feet.
As a result, you may not feel irritation, the pain of injury, cut and develop a blister or sore that may get converted into an ulcer and cause serious infection. The absence of treatment of foot ulcers or infection may lead to the development of gangrene that may lead to amputation.
Peripheral Vascular Disease sets in changes in blood vessels due to deposition of plaque i.e. fatty matter on the inner walls of blood vessels. This may result in blockage of blood vessels or diminishing blood supply to extremities especially lower limbs and feet.
Reduced blood supply may cause inadequate or lack of oxygen to the affected area i.e. hypoxia. Thereby, make the healing process of foot ulcers or sores even more difficult.
The necessity of early treatment of diabetic foot
Both Diabetic Neuropathy and Peripheral Vascular Disease are quite serious conditions as these not only damage your feet but can seriously affect eyes and kidneys as well. It is therefore prudent to start treatment of diabetic foot as soon as possible to avoid other complications.
Complications caused due to Diabetic Neuropathy and Peripheral Vascular Disease include:
- Foot ulcers or wounds that do not heal
- Infections like skin infections, bone infections, and abscesses
- Necrosis i.e. death of tissues that may lead to the development of gangrene.
- Charcot’s foot that alters the shape of the feet as bones in the foot and toe-shift or even breaks
- Foot deformity
Treatment of diabetic foot
Treatment of diabetic foot is given as per the condition of the foot of the patient. It can be:
- Nonsurgical
Non-surgical treatment of diabetic foot basically revolves around maintaining glucose level and foot hygiene like:
- Cleaning and washing feet regularly
- Keeping skin smooth and dry
- Smoothing corns and calluses gently
- Trimming toenails
- Wearing shoes and socks at all times
- Protecting your feet from hot and cold
- Surgical
Ideally, surgical treatment of diabetic foot calls for a team of doctors for a multidisciplinary approach that includes a:
The surgeon who is well versed with the anatomy of foot in
- Vascular surgeon for debridement procedures
- Diabetologist to cope with metabolic disturbances
- Clinical microbiologist or infectious diseases specialist
- Podiatrist
We aim to improve the patient’s complete experience and the desired recovery. Along with a surgeon we even make sure to assist you to select the right hospital required for your treatment. Click to Contact
During surgical procedures, revascularization of the foot is needed to save limbs.
Hence, surgery must be performed in close cooperation with vascular surgical service i.e. peripheral vascular disease specialist.
Surgery of diabetic foot, through debridement technique, is performed for:
- Removal of decaying, dead or tissue infected necrotic tissue, bacterial growth, foreign debris, and infected skin.
Surgical removal of foot ulcers helps reducing inflammation and relieving pain.
- Controlling deep foot infection, inhibition and elimination of bacterial growth that can lead to amputation
When an infection is not treated properly or develops into gangrene; diabetic foot surgery is done for:
- Amputation of single or multiple toes
- Amputation, ranging from sections of the infected foot to amputation of the leg below or even above the knee
- Surgical stabilization of Charcot’s Foot
Diabetic foot surgery also entails an arterial bypass for a peripheral vascular disease to improve blood flow to the affected area
Best Diabetic Foot Surgery India
The facilities for diabetic foot surgery are available in most of the major cities of India.
However, for best diabetic foot surgery India, you may contact
- Dr. Sandipan Gupta, Kolkata
- Dr. Ravul Jindal, Chandigarh
- Dr. Deepti Jindal, Guwahati
- Dr. Purushottam Reddy Padala, Hyderabad
- Dr. A.P.S. Suri, Delhi
- Dr. Hari Kiran Chekuri, Hyderabad
- Dr. Sachin Kuber, Pune
- Dr. J.B. Joshi, Dehradun
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