Why, How and When Diabetic Face Amputations?
Statistics has time and again proved that India is the capital of Diabetes in the world. This life-threatening disease is spreading far and wide across the states irrespective of class, creed and culture. As per the national conference on diabetes, India’s 15 percent of the diabetic population is known to suffer from ulcers at least once in their lifetime.
Diabetes is in itself not only about less insulin and high sugar levels in the body. It can lead to nerve damage and reduction in blood circulation. These two conditions can make the feet vulnerable to skin sores or ulcers. These ulcers can magnify in no time.
With modern management by physicians and with proper foot care you can actually prevent foot ulcers. It has been found that a little care would bring down the lower limb amputations by 50 percent.
It has been found that more than 80 percent of the amputations start with foot ulcers. A non-curable ulcer can cause significant damage to tissues and bone and need surgical removal of toe, foot or part of the leg.
[Also Read Diabetic Ulcers on Foot and Treatment]
Factors leading to the risk of amputation
- High blood pressure above 140/80
- High blood sugar levels
- Smoking
- Nerve deterioration
- Reduction in blood circulation to the nerve endings
- Previous foot ulcer history
- Previous amputation
- Vision deterioration
- Kidney disease
[Also Read 5 Ways to Avoid Diabetes Complications]
[Also Read Things to know about kidneys if you are a diabetic]
[Also Read How To Prevent Heart Disease In Diabetics]
Symptoms of ulcer
- Toenails grew inside
- Blisters
- Plantar warts on the foot soles
- Sportsman’s foot
- Open sore
- Foul smell
- Ulcer lasting for more than 1 or 2 weeks
- Ulcer bigger than 2 cm
- Ulcer not healing fast
- A deep ulcer such that you can see the bone below
Precautions to prevent ulcers
- To inspect your feet everyday
- Wash feet daily
- To avoid calluses or other foot lesions yourself
- To trim your toenails on a regular basis
- Never to go barefoot
- Always wear clean and dry socks
- Wear shoes that fit properly
- Avoid smoking
- To go for regular foot checkups
[Also Read How to care for feet when you have diabetes]
When is Amputation done?
When the ulcer is not healing and becomes a life threat, the call is taken for amputation. The dead tissues and damaged tissues are removed with a surgical procedure. The ulcer is under observation for a few days till the wound is healed.
At the conference at Zen hospital,Dr. Roy Patankar claimed that 69 million of Indian population is diabetic. At the same time, they urged treating ulcers or wounds is quite a challenge for the physicians. They called the hospitals for admission of ulcer-related issues and to provide timely medical help to reduce the intensity of ulcers or wounds.
The stalwarts in the field of wound management like Madhuri Gore and Dr.Sitaram Prasad were part of the delegation. The doctors called for improved wound health care across hospitals in India.
The advanced technology and new ulcer care products are helping the physicians and surgeons to provide the patients with maximum benefits. The emphasis in the conference was about the identification and assessment of the ulcer healing and its formation. The focus was also on chronic ulcers or wounds, therapy and case studies of breakthrough cases.
The increase in the number of amputations has caused concern amongst the medical fraternity today. People who have one amputation are at a risk of having another. The conference and topics in the conference echoed the same thought. The awareness amongst the diabetics about the symptoms and precautions to be taken will be a start.
Diabetes is increasing by numerous times. The stress in daily lives, hereditary factors and lifestyle changes and not being observant of ulcers are reasons for the increase in amputation. The diabetics need to follow a healthy lifestyle inclusive of healthy food habits with regular exercise. Following a proper diabetes treatment plan is a must to have blood sugar levels under control. Along with the above, you need to be aware and observant about the sores and ulcers occurring in your foot. Timely help is the best precaution you can take to save yourself from the pain of ulcers or wounds.
[Also Read Ayurveda For Diabetes: How To Manage Diabetes Naturally]
The ideal way of tackling diabetes is Ayurveda as it prescribes all natural and purely herbal ingredients that ensure zero side effects.
To combat diabetes, Sugar Knocker has come up with its range of products that help in maintaining the blood sugar levels in the most natural way possible.
