Diabetic foot ulcers: When to cut?

Foot ulcers in diabetics are one of the most dangerous complications. If not treated properly, it can lead to tissue necrosis and even amputation to ensure patient safety.

Diabetic foot ulcer, also known as diabetic foot, is one of the most common and dangerous complications of diabetes. About 15-25% of patients have foot ulcers during the course of the disease. Foot ulcers if not treated will lead to dangerous complications such as diabetic foot infection, foot deformity, toe necrosis,...
About 5-7% of people with diabetes have diabetes. diabetic foot complications and the risk of foot amputation, when foot ulcers are 15 to 46 times higher than the general population. Peripheral neuritis and atherosclerotic vascular narrowing or occlusion and the possibility of local skin infection are very high.
Types of diabetic foot complications include:
Diabetic neuropathy: can cause nerve damage leading to numbness in the feet, decreased sensation in the extremities. This condition causes discomfort, pain in the feet or a diabetic foot infection. Prolonged untreated infection can lead to ulcers and even gangrene. Peripheral vascular disease: diabetes leads to changes in blood vessels including arteries. In peripheral vascular disease, fat forms plaques and clogs vessels far from the brain and heart. As a result, blood flow is reduced to the extremities and slows wound healing, severe infections, etc.

Amputation is the last resort to ensure the patient's health. Usually a soft tissue wound heals in about a week. However, in people with diabetes, the wound on the foot will heal more slowly, and it can take weeks to months. Foot wounds that do not heal are susceptible to infection. The infection can spread up to the calf. Patients will have high fever, chills, fluid accumulation in the feet, even dark ulcers are signs of necrosis.
Depending on the infection and necrosis of the ulcer, the doctor will give appropriate indications. If there is little necrosis, the doctor will perform a debridement surgery to preserve the patient's leg. However, if the gangrene has spread, the doctor will need to amputate the limb to prevent a potentially life-threatening sepsis.

Amputation is the last measure that can be taken to ensure the safety of the patient's life. This increases the cost of treatment and injury to patients, leading to a reduced quality of life. Therefore, the prevention of diabetic foot complications is very important and necessary. Some measures to prevent and take care of diabetic feet properly include:
Ensure blood sugar by following three diets: diet, exercise and treatment. Check your feet daily for early detection of scratches, sores, blisters, etc. Clean your feet daily to make sure the skin is always clean. After that, you need to dry your feet really well, pay attention to the gaps between your toes, etc. Note that you should not keep your feet for too long and the water temperature must be suitable. Disinfect and bandage the wound when the skin is scratched. Trim toenails properly: do not cut deep into the corner of the nail or mistakenly cut into the skin. Because even a small scratch can cause an infection. Choose suitable shoes, sandals and socks: do not go barefoot and it is mandatory to wear socks when wearing shoes. Socks should be about 1-2 inches longer than the patient's toes to avoid squeezing the feet, causing reduced blood circulation. Do not use elastic socks or garters at the toes. In fact, foot ulcers in diabetics will depend on the patient's condition, and the doctor will recommend conservative and appropriate treatment methods. Therefore, when seeing an injury on the foot, it is necessary to immediately go to a medical facility for examination, advice and appropriate interventions.
To be examined and treated for diabetes, patients can go to Vinmec International General Hospital to be examined by a team of experienced and specialized endocrinologists. The examination will help the doctor accurately classify the type of diabetes, develop a nutritional regimen, monitor to minimize the risks and complications caused by diabetes to ensure the best health for the patient.