It is estimated that 15% of all diabetics will develop a serious foot condition at some time in their lives. Common diabetic foot problems include diabetic foot infections, ulceration, or gangrene that may lead, in severe cases, to amputation of a toe, foot or leg.
Most of these diabetic foot problems are preventable through proper diabetic foot care and regular visits to podiatrist, diabetic foot clinic can provide information on foot inspection and care, proper footwear, and early recognition and treatment of diabetic foot conditions.
Prevention is the first step towards solving diabetic foot problems. Although it was estimated that a leg is lost to diabetes somewhere in the world every 30 s, a more important fact is that 85% of all amputations in diabetes should be preventable by diabetic foot care
It is the loss of pain that permits patients with diabetic neuropathy to develop diabetic foot ulcer and to continue walking on them despite the presence of often overwhelming Diabetic Foot Infections
Preventing foot ulcers are costeffective and can even be cost-saving if increased education and effort are focused on those patients with recognised risk factors for the development of foot problems than diabetic ulceration /podiatric surgeries
It must be remembered that the greatest single risk factor for foot ulceration is a past history of either ulceration or amputation.
Diabetic Foot care
a) Clean feet daily using warm water and mild soap, dry with soft towel
b) Inspect feet and toes twice daily for cuts, blisters, redness
c) Moisturize feet with lotion, avoiding interdigital spaces
d) File callus, corns with pumice stone
e) Cut toenails regularly
f) Do not go barefoot; wear slippers or thick socks
g) Wear well-fitted shoes; check inside shoe before use