Despite all the progress made, diabetic complications associated with foot problems are still placing a huge burden on the Australian health care system, particularly when it comes to older patients and patients that suffer from type 2 diabetes after many years of suffering from it. According to the Diabetes Australia report, more than 1.5 million people suffer from diabetes in Australia. The foot complications are responsible for taking thousands of patients to hospital every year. Data collected by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reveal an alarming picture. The chances of a person suffering from diabetes to lose limbs due to the effects of diabetes are 30 times higher than the chances of non-diabetics to experience amputation. Poor blood circulation plays a key role here, followed by nerve damage and slow healing of minor injuries.
Checking Feet Every Day Can Lower the Chance of Ulcers
Daily foot examinations remain a prominent preventive measure for diabetic foot ulcers among doctors and scientists. It is due to the development of peripheral neuropathy, which occurs in nearly 50% of patients who have suffered from diabetes for over 10 years. Nerve endings start losing the ability to transmit pain signals. The injuries that should be immediately felt go unnoticed by the patients. Any blisters may develop unnoticed. The same goes for cuts on the heels or pressure sores caused by poorly fitting shoes. The infection develops unnoticed, until a more critical stage is reached. For this reason, the Australian guidelines recommend checking both feet every day and paying special attention to areas in between the toes and near the heels. The clinicians also monitor other symptoms of early infection, such as redness, swelling, or changes in skin temperature. The early detection of these indicators enables timely prevention of infections before the patient is required to receive inpatient treatment in the hospital. When conducting regular consultations with podiatry Armadale clinics, health practitioners often highlight the benefits of self-examination since most foot complications appear symptomless and slowly developing.
Clean Foot Care Helps Protect Skin from Infection
Further research has found a link between infections caused by fungi and skin damage to be prevalent amongst those individuals who have been diagnosed with diabetes. Poor circulation and weak immune systems make the skin prone for infection for longer times. Research carried out by Australian podiatry suggests that about 30% of diabetics are prone to recurrent foot or nail infections by fungi. This can lead to several infections such as bacterial infections, cellulitis and ulcers, as well. According to the clinical guidelines, it is important for diabetics to wash their feet on daily basis using lukewarm water at a temperature of 33°C to 37°C as neuropathy makes them insensitive to excessively hot water. In addition, it is advisable to apply fragrance-free moisturizers to prevent the formation of dry skin which can easily break. Fissures in heels are known to provide a pathway to infection-causing bacteria but care should be taken to ensure that moisturizers do not come in contact with the spaces between the toes.
The Wrong Shoes Can Raise the Risk of Foot Injuries
Poorly made shoes remain responsible for many cases of foot problems among diabetic patients around the globe. Research by the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot reveals that ill-fitting shoes are responsible for almost half of the foot ulcers that could be prevented. This statistic alone provides a sufficient explanation for why footwear remains such an important topic in diabetes discussion. Tight-fitting footwear subjects the feet to excessive pressure in small spots for extended periods of time. Ill-fitting footwear leads to the opposite problem as it results in rubbing against the feet and development of blisters. In Australia, more and more diabetes experts are recommending medical-grade footwear that distributes the pressure throughout the entire surface of the foot.
Blood Sugar Levels Shape Long-Term Foot Health
The scientific research keeps establishing an association between bad glucose regulation and increasing incidences of neuropathy and vascular disease. Elevated blood glucose damages the small vessels in the body gradually. Less oxygen gets through, wounds do not close, and healing takes much longer than normal. Longitudinal studies in Australia have shown that individuals whose HbA1c levels are more than 8% have higher risks of developing foot ulcers compared to those whose levels hover around 7%. Even though the margin is small, its effects on foot health cannot be ignored.
Smoking and Weak Circulation Push Amputation Risk Higher
Peripheral artery disease affects a substantial proportion of diabetic individuals, and smokers usually suffer the most from complications associated with this disease. The habit of smoking makes the arteries constricted, resulting in limited oxygen supply to the rest of the body. Both diabetes and smoking contribute to circulation-related issues. Australian vascular studies show that wound healing is significantly more difficult in diabetic individuals with a history of smoking than in diabetics who never smoked. Moreover, amputation rates increase among smoking diabetics by far compared with non-smoking patients. This makes vascular tests highly recommended for diabetic individuals aged over 50.
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