Diabetes, a term that sounds a bit of a headache, has actually quietly entered many families and has become a "frequent visitor" that cannot be ignored around us. When it comes to diabetes, many people may first think of blood sugar control, but the problems that come with diabetes are much more than that.
What you may not know is that seemingly ordinary foot problems can be the precursors of diabetic foot. So, if you have these 5 signs on your feet, seek medical attention immediately and don't delay!
1. Dry and itchy feet: a sign of diabetic neuropathy
Do you often feel that your feet are as dry as autumn leaves, and it's accompanied by itching, scratching around like fleas? Actually, this can be a warning sign of diabetic neuropathy.
According to the Chinese Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Diabetic Foot (2019 Edition) (I.), this symptom indicates that the autonomic nerves that regulate the secretion of sweat glands may have been damaged, resulting in little or no sweating, which in turn causes dry and itchy skin on the feet.
And don't underestimate this problem, there are data showing that 45%~60% of diabetic foot ulcers are caused by this neuropathy. Therefore, once you find that this situation occurs in your feet, you have to pay attention to it, and don't regret it until it becomes a big problem.
2. Loss of sensation: when walking on "cotton".
Another headache is that the feet feel numb, as if stepping on cotton, and the sensation is dull to heat and cold, pins and needles, or even no sensation at all. This is again the fault of diabetic neuropathy.
When sensory neuropathy occurs, your feet become less sensitive to the outside world, which means that even if your foot is injured, you may not be aware of it. Imagine if the wound was not detected in time and the wound became infected, the situation would be even more complicated.
As highlighted in the Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Diabetic Foot in China (2019 Edition) (I.), early identification and management are the key to preventing the development of diabetic foot.
So, if you start to lose sensation in your feet, or if you have unusual sensations, it's really a good idea to go to the hospital.
3. Cold sensation and color change of feet: early warning of vascular lesions
A cold feeling in your feet or a change in color may sound like a normal reaction to cold weather in winter, but for people with diabetes, it can be a more damn warning.
The truth behind this phenomenon is that diabetes not only affects the patient's nervous system, but can also lead to vascular lesions in the lower limbs. This lesion can cause poor blood circulation, which can lead to a decrease in the temperature of the skin on the feet and a change in color.
Another direct consequence of vascular lesions is that when a foot is injured or an ulcer appears, the healing process of the wound becomes unusually slow due to obstruction of blood circulation.
4. Foot pain and walking difficulties: double attack of nerve and vascular lesions
Pain in the feet or difficulty walking may be the most intuitive experience for people with diabetes. This symptom is usually due to a combination of neuropathy and vascular disease.
Neuropathy can cause paresthesias and even pain, while vascular lesions affect the blood supply to the feet, exacerbating pain and affecting the patient's ability to walk.
To complicate matters further, the onset of this symptom is not always continuous. Some patients may experience more pain in their feet at night and little to no pain during the day.
This fluctuating sensation of pain not only affects the patient's daily life, but can also cause the patient to ignore other problems in the feet, such as broken skin or infection.
For diabetic patients, once they experience symptoms of foot pain or difficulty walking, they should seek medical help immediately to avoid worsening the condition.
5. Swelling of the toes or feet: a sign of infection and inflammation
Swelling of the toes or feet can be a telltale sign of inflammation or infection, especially in people with diabetes, and this symptom often signals more serious complications.
When infected, bacteria or other pathogens may grow in wounds or cracks in the feet, and diabetics provide a good environment for bacteria to grow due to high blood sugar levels.
Once an infection occurs, an inflammatory response ensues, resulting in symptoms such as local redness, swelling, heat, pain, etc., which are all signals that the body is trying to fight the infection.
6. Slow wound healing: a red flag for diabetic foot
Long-term hyperglycemia can affect the structure of the foot, causing the toes to become deformed. This deformation not only affects the appearance, but more importantly can lead to gait abnormalities, increasing pressure in certain areas of the foot, which in turn can form tender points.
These tender points can easily form crusts or calluses, and in diabetics, ulcers may form underneath these crusts or calluses, but patients are often unaware of this due to loss of sensation.
Slow wound healing is an important feature in diabetic foot. Under normal circumstances, after a skin injury, the body initiates a series of complex biological processes to repair the damage.
This process is often disrupted in people with diabetes. High blood sugar disrupts the body's normal healing mechanisms, affecting the function of white blood cells, slowing blood flow, and thus delaying wound healing. As a result, small wounds in diabetics can also develop into ulcers that are difficult to heal.
The appearance of each symptom should not be overlooked. In the treatment of diabetic foot, the doctor will develop a personalized treatment plan based on the patient's specific situation.
This may include medications, blood sugar control, local wound care, and even surgery. At the same time, the doctor will also educate the patient on how to properly care for the foot to prevent the further development of the diabetic foot.
summary
The management of diabetic foot is a comprehensive challenge that requires us to pay close attention not only to blood sugar control, but also to all aspects of foot health.
By understanding the early symptoms of diabetic foot and timely intervention, we can effectively reduce the burden and improve the quality of life of patients.