ad to the most sad consequences!
To begin with, the patient should consult a therapist, surgeon or endocrinologist. Also, help is provided by doctors working in specialized offices for diabetic feet, but these are not available in every city. The diagnosis is made on the basis of the collected analyzes. First, basic body studies are performed:
- Blood biochemistry, as well as its general analysis;
- General urine analysis, coupled with checking the stability of the kidneys;
- Ultrasound of the heart, x-ray of the chest and its organs;
- Assessment of the degree of blood clotting.
After that, the work of the patient’s nervous system is examined:
- Checking the safety of reflexes;
- Assessment of tactile / pain sensitivity.
Further, the quality of blood flow to the lower extremities is examined:
- Measurement of blood pressure in the vessels of the feet;
- Dopplerometry ;
If there is a formed ulcer:
- A sample of the microflora of the wound is taken to assess its sensitivity to antibiotic drugs;
- Examination of an open lesion under a microscope.
The final stage is radiography of the lower extremities. Despite the duration of the diagnostic stages, an effective treatment plan cannot be built without them.
The methods of treating diabetic foot are complex, that is, they contain several procedures at once that have a beneficial effect on the injury and on the general condition of the patient. Doctors divide the methods of treatment into several types, each of which universally adapts to the problem of the diabetic. The first option is to treat SDS with stable blood flow to the affected limb:
- Complete rejection of addictions;
- Physical relief of the injured foot;
- Suppression of the development of infections by antibacterial treatment;
- Tracking the course of the underlying disease;
- Treatment of possible concomitant ailments caused by SDS.
The second option is relevant in case of impaired blood flow to the injured foot:
- Identical therapy described above;
- Restoration of the quality and stability of blood supply to tissues.
The third type of treatment is the most difficult because it concerns the forms of ulcers with necrosis:
- Surgical intervention;
- If there is no effect, amputation.
Treatment carried out under the close supervision of a physician is not the only required attribute on the path to healing. A huge role is played by the patient’s personal attitude, as well as his responsible attitude to the subsequent care of his own health.
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease, so patients need to pay attention to the condition of their own legs daily. The most important problem that is ignored by diabetics is the correct selection of shoes for daily wear:
- It should be made of genuine, high-quality leather and have no seams inside, which can be easily checked by hand;
- You cannot buy tight shoes, the thing should sit freely on the foot, not rub it or pinch it;
- The nose is wide so that the fingers are not in constant tightness;
- The maximum permissible heel size is 4 cm;
- It is advisable to select models according to the cardboard blank of the outlined leg;
- To find the optimal pair, it is better to visit the store in the evening and try things on a swollen tired leg. Be sure to wear cotton socks to reduce friction on your skin. They need to be changed 1-2 times a day. It will also require regular changes of shoes to provide general physical relief from joints, bones and muscles.
The next tip concerns hygiene care. You need to wash your feet daily, with special care. After each shower, the skin is thoroughly dried with a towel. Any scratch you see should be shown to your doctor to prevent SDS in time. Before each going outside, it is necessary to check the shoes for foreign bodies inside, so as not to injure the leg again. It is also not recommended to walk barefoot on sandy beaches, as well as on the grass outside the city. Even micro-trauma to the skin can lead to the formation of minor wounds that can develop into gaping ulcers.
Treatment of wounds
An independent method of treating a diabetic foot inclu