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Diabetic And Prediabetic Footcare Part 1 of 4 – Recognising an “At-Risk Foot”
By edwinseow | August 25, 2008
One of the major consequences of being a diabetic is limb amputations. In Singapore alone, there are 2 to 3 limb amputations daily because of diabetic foot complications.
photo from Stephen Eastop
Even if you are just a prediabetic, it still pays for you to take good care of your foot and be able to recognise what is an “at risk” foot. For example, I am only a prediabetic but i have already began to see foot ulcers in between my toes (see picture right below and notiice how dry my skin is). The reason is because the harm to your body does not start after you become a diabetic, it actually happens way before - when you are just a prediabetic.
Here’s How to Recognise an “At-Risk Foot“:
1. Neuropathy
-Symptoms:
- numbness
- loss of feeling of pain
- burning or unpleasant sensation
- tingling sensation like needles poking
- Signs:
- thick calluses, blisters, foot ulcers or sores that do not heal
- dry skin and loss of hair over lower limbs
- changes in shape of feet : hammer toes, hallux vagus and bunion
2. Vasculopathy
- Symptoms:
- Painful calf especially upon walking and relieved by rest
- Night pains relieved by handing legs over side of bed
- Signs:
- absence of pulses of the feet
- dry skin and loss of hair over lower limbs
- pale looking feet
- feet that looks black or purplish
- foot ulcers or sores that do not heal
Below is a picture of an ulcer between my toes which is hard to heal because i didn’t take note to dry between toes which is an essential good practice in diabetic footcare…read about it in my next post which i shall write on the what are the good practices for diabetic and also prediabetic footcare..
Ulcer on my foot
These 4 part series are referenced from “Living with Diabetes” by Diabetic Society of Singapore, National Healthcare Group and Singapore Health Services - All supported by Bayer Healthcare.
Topics: Blood Sugar Control, Complications of Diabetes, Diabetes Overview |
February 7th, 2009 at 9:23 am
how is that ulcer doing on your foot? Has it improved or worsened since that photo was taken?
February 7th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
the ulcer is still there but is much better. i always try to keep it dry there because it gets worse when wet.