We can tackle the complications of the foot and ankle injury from diabetes with a systematic approach.
India is the diabetes capital of the world. If we extrapolate this information to the complications of diabetes, then one can conclude that diabetic foot ulcer is at the top of the list.
Diabetes destroys our body slowly but surely despite good control of sugar. The longer you have it, the more the chances of complications.
Loss of sensation in the foot is caused by damage to the nerves’ myelin sheath which results in loss of balance and also an inability to feel pain. This is a dangerous situation that exposes our feet to new deformities, loss of sweating leading to drying of the skin, and loss of pain sensation.
This triad creates abnormal pressure points on the soles, sides, and toes. Shoe bites, corns, infected nails, and cracked heel pads are early warning signs of impending foot ulcers.
Due to loss of pain sensation this early, ulcers go undetected and can turn into chronic infected ulcers reaching the underlying bone, which is 30-40 percent of cases end up in below-knee amputation. Poor blood supply due to associated atherosclerosis (narrow blood vessels) also compromises the healing response and may cause local gangrene.
