Diabetic foot

Diagnosis

In order to identify foot issue related to diabetes, a healthcare professional will:

• Physical examination: Healthcare provider will assess the signs and symptoms, and how well does the patient manage blood sugar. Conduct assessment of the leg, foot, and toes, to determine if there is numbness or ulcers with redness, swelling, discoloration, or discharges from the wound. Some portion of the skin or discharge may be taken to test for any sign of infection.
• Imaging test: Healthcare provider may order to conduct imaging test such as X-ray or MRI to assess the condition of the affected area.

Treatment

Since diabetes is a disease with many complications, the best approach of treatment is multidisciplinary, which is a team of doctors aiming for a holistic care for overall conditions, both physical and mental health, restoring the overall well-being of the patient.

A podiatrist, a physician who focuses on the feet, may provide treatment for foot pain brought on by diabetes. The course of treatment could include:

• Wound cleaning.
• Draining any pus or liquid from the ulcer.
• Debridement or removing/ cutting the infected or dead tissue
• Giving oral or intravenous antibiotic to treat and prevent infection.
• Applying specialized bandages and ointments to absorb additional fluid, shield the wound, and speed up the healing process.
• Offloading the affected foot by using wheelchair or crutches.

Your healthcare provider can advise hospitalization if the infection is severe. Sometimes an amputation is required to stop an infection from spreading to other bodily parts.