Poorly controlled diabetes can cause severe problems to the feet. It may even lead to foot ulcers, blisters, pain, and foot infections. In some serious cases, the damage can be so deep that the infections in the feet can spread throughout, damaging other organs and even becoming deadly. And, severe foot infections sometimes can even lead to the amputation of feet. Therefore, everyone who has diabetes has to be serious and should not let go of the symptoms of diabetic feet. In this blog, the best plastic surgeon in Kolkata will discuss some foot problems that can occur due to unmanaged or poorly managed diabetes and also guide on how to prevent and manage these effects.

What are the symptoms of diabetic foot?

• Though the symptoms of diabetic food depend on the severity of the unmanaged diabetes of every person, here are some most common symptoms that include –
• Sudden numbness or a constant painful tingling in the foot for a longer period of time
• Blisters or wounds without pain
• Discoloration of the skin
• Fever
• Redness or swelling
• Chilling

What are the major complications of diabetic foot?

• Foot ulcers or wounds that have a fewer possibility to heal again
• Foot infections that may penetrate deep into the bones and lead to bone infections
• Gangrene
• Permanent deformity in the foot
• Damage to surrounding areas or body parts
• Losing the ability to walk permanently
• Death sometimes

What are the risk factors for diabetic foot?

• Unmanaged blood sugar level causes multiple problems in a diabetic patient’s body, including nerve damage.
• Having a family history of having high blood sugar levels may lead someone to diabetic foot and other problems.
• Diabetes often affects kidneys and damaged kidneys create toxin in the blood and ends up occurring in diabetic foot by damaging the nerves.
• Excessive smoking creates obstacles to spontaneous blood flow in the feet by making the arteries narrow. So, when such happens it takes time to heal any wound in the feet. Sometimes, it leads to diabetic foot.

How to prevent diabetic foot?

• If you have a high blood sugar level, manage your diabetes regularly by doing exercise, maintaining a good diet plan, taking the proper medicines, etc.
• Check your feet regularly if it has developed any wound, blister, or redness.
• Keep your feet clean always. After coming from outside, try to wash your feet with mild soap and lukewarm water.
• Wear good-quality clean and dry cotton socks. Dirty socks may lead your feet to infections.
• Visit your healthcare provider or the best reconstruction surgeon in Kolkata before the damage becomes severe and out of control.