How to care for diabetic foot

  Diabetic foot is one of the most serious complications of diabetic peripheral neuroangiopathy, and its development is mainly related to three main factors: diabetic neuropathy, vasculopathy and infection. The main manifestations are numbness and coldness of the foot, loss of sensation, pain, ulcers, infection and gangrene, and slow or even non-healing wounds, with amputation being an option in cases of uncontrolled infection and pain. Therefore, the diabetic foot seriously affects the life of patients and treatment.  Among the various factors of diabetic foot, the most important is the ischemia caused by vascular lesions. Due to the ischemia, the local defense and repair power are greatly reduced, which makes it easy for trauma to occur, even including pressure injuries caused by their own gravity, and once a wound is formed, it often does not heal for a long time. Diabetic patients must actively prevent the occurrence of diabetic foot from the following aspects  1, active control of diabetes: including dietary control, drug therapy, exercise. You can consult an endocrinologist for details.  2, often observe the skin color, temperature, check the dorsal foot artery pulsation and elasticity, timely detection of tiny breaks in the skin of the foot, and timely treatment. If the skin temperature is low, the color is white, and the fluctuation of the dorsalis pedis artery is weak or cannot be touched, it indicates foot ischemia.  3, the foot to keep clean and dry, can be used close to body temperature of warm water soaking feet, is conducive to improving local blood circulation, but remember not to use too hot water soaking feet, one will aggravate the foot ischemia, the second is too hot water will lead to skin burns. Foot itching and so do not scratch excessively, can be appropriate with emollient cream. Wear shoes and medicines loose and comfortable. Pay attention to foot warmth when it is cold.  4, foot blister is one of the important causes of diabetic foot infection, smaller blisters are generally kept clean, covered with a clean dressing, can be slowly absorbed. Larger blisters, remember not to cut, can be aseptic under the aseptic suction fluid, regular disinfection, keep the epidermis intact to prevent bacterial invasion.  5, for the trauma that has become infected, insist on daily drug changes, exuding more trauma even change several times a day, and use sensitive antibiotics according to the results of bacterial culture, the trauma should be cleared in time when there are more necrotic tissues in the trauma, the trauma is cleaned with saline, and anti-inflammatory drugs such as pyrimidine silver can be used topically, together with low-temperature physiotherapy, to achieve trauma drying, decay and muscle growth. If the infection can not be controlled, finally have to take the amputation.  6, the last point, is walking, walking is the best treatment for lower limb ischemia, check walking, can promote lower limb blood circulation, promote the establishment of collateral circulation, improve ischemic tissue metabolism, patients can be in physical condition allows, more exercise, active prevention and treatment of ischemic diseases caused by diabetes.