Diabetic foot surgeon
Diabetes is widespread today, affecting millions across the world and rising rapidly. One of the major problems from high blood sugar levels for a long period of time is the diabetic foot. Foot problems are a cause for concern as they are the most common reason for hospitalization for diabetics.
Our diabetic foot clinic at Vashi, Navi Mumbai provides treatment for a variety of diabetic foot symptoms including foot ulcers, sores, swelling, foot deformity or fractures.
Why do Foot Problems Occur?
Diabetic foot is caused either due to damage to nerves in the foot or due to poor circulation.
When nerves are damaged, a diabetic patient is unable to feel their feet and has no awareness of pain or of sensations like heat, cold. Due to this lack of feeling, patients do not sense wounds like cuts or blisters on their feet, causing significant problems as they quickly worsen to more severe infections. This chronic nerve damage is called diabetic neuropathy. Early signs of neuropathy include tingling, pain and numbness in extremities.
Diabetes also causes loss of circulation and damage to blood vessels. Poor blood and oxygen supply to the feet result in wounds like sores or cuts not healing, which if left untreated can develop into serious infections like ulcers or gangrene. This condition is called peripheral vascular disease.
Prevention of Diabetic Foot
While Diabetic Foot is treatable, it is advisable to take measures that prevent it. Primary focus for diabetes management needs to be on consistently controlling blood sugar levels within prescribed limits.
Ensuring regular foot hygiene is an essential requirement as it helps to spot problems right at the onset, enabling immediate treatment.
Vigilant care is required to maintain foot hygiene.
It includes inspecting the feet every day for any signs of trouble like wounds or cracks and washing regularly to keep them clean. Feet must be kept moisturised using creams or lotions to avoid the skin from becoming too dry and cracking. Toenails must be kept trimmed and any corns or calluses in the feet must be smoothened. It is also recommended to wear well-cushioned shoes with socks. Walking barefoot is to be avoided as the feet become more vulnerable to injuries.
Diabetic foot Treatment:Surgical Options
Surgery for diabetic foot is usually opted for in severe cases of infection, bone deformity or in extreme situations where amputation is needed.
To treat serious infections, surgical wound management techniques are used to help the foot ulcer or wound to heal faster. Surgery is also used to remove of dead or infected tissue to help the wound close and control the spread of infection.
In case of bone deformities, surgery is used to re-align the bones or remove any growth. Diabetics experience bone deformities when poor circulation results in weak bones which easily break or dislocate and patients do not realise it due to nerve damage.
Amputation as a treatment for diabetic foot is used as a final resort when the spread of infection is extensive and the foot cannot be saved. The foot is usually surgically amputated at the ankle to control the further spread of the infection.
Dr.Nitish Jhawar, General and diabetic foot surgeon in Mumbai, India with over 17 years of experience has successfully treated several cases of diabetic foot infections to speed up the healing process.
