The Link Between Foot Ulcers And Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease caused by the inability of the pancreas to produce sufficient insulin. Over a period of time the ingested sugar builds up in the blood which when left untreated can cause extreme damage to the body - even death. Fortunately, diabetes is easily diagnosed and most people receive medical attention in time to bring life back to normal.
Foot Ulcers Can Occur In Spite Of The Best Medication And Care
Most people think that if they keep the sugar in check they need not worry about the possible complications that diabetes can cause. Unfortunately this is not correct. The oscillation of blood sugar (particularly in those people where diabetes has been diagnosed very late) takes its toll on the tissues and nerves of the body and sooner or later some medical problems will surface. This is why it is very important that all diabetics have periodic complete medical check-ups.
Typically, diabetes attacks the eye sight, peripheral nerves, the kidneys, blood circulation and the heart. Depending on how disciplined a life you lead after the diagnosis and the diet you follow, these problems can be averted to a large extent. However, very often foot ulcers are hard to fight off.
How Foot Ulcers Happen?
As mentioned earlier diabetes usually affects blood circulation; it also affects the amount of oxygen it carries to the tissues as the sugar build-up thereby literally starves the tissues in the peripheral areas. In this context the feet are affected the most. When the nerves in the extremities are damaged (which included both hands and feet) the sensation in these areas becomes less.
Pain - someone said - is the alarm of the body. When you feel pain you will know that something is not right. However, in this case when you get hurt, or when your feet are strangled in tight shoes, you do not have the benefit of the alarm and hence, you continue with the abuse. Very soon, the feet get hurt and bleed. It could also happen that you walk barefoot and step upon something that causes you injury - of which you remain unaware of because it does not pain you.
Once your feet are hurt, the healing will be very slow because the healing power of the red blood cells is also impaired by the diabetes - and foot ulcers are born. N other words, this is a sore that would refuse to heal and eventually grow larger over time.
The best way to fight foot ulcers is to prevent their occurrence which is not difficult. All you need to do is keep a close watch on your feet and keep them clean and dry. If you wear shoes regularly, wear the recommended type of socks for diabetics and shoes that allow your feet to breathe. In spite of all the precautions if you still get foot ulcers, ensure that you get medical attention at the earliest.
