People with diabetes There is an increased risk of many types of welfare problems with the feet. A diabetic Examination of the foot can help find problems that, if not detected and treated in the early stages, can lead to serious infections and amputation (surgery to remove the entire foot or part of it).
Diabetic foot problems can develop over time as high blood sugar levels damage nerves and blood vessels in the foot. Nerve damage due to diabetes is called diabetic nerve damage. This can cause your feet to become paralyzed or roll over. It still has the property that you lose feeling in your feet.
If you do not have pain in your feet, you may not be able to pick up calluses, blisters, or cuts. Without healing, the sides of these normal wounds may freeze oaths (open wounds) which are more likely to become infected.
If you have diabetes A painful leg or infection, even if healed, may not heal completely. The reason for that is. diabetes It can destroy blood vessels and cause poor blood flow in the leg. If nothing is done about the infection, the material in the leg will get a chance to die. This is called antonovogony.
If you have antonobogony or an infection that will not heal, you may need to have your leg, foot, or part of your leg amputated to prevent the infection from spreading and saving your life. Fortunately, you can help yourself keep your feet healthier:
- Getting regular diabetic foot exams
- Foot care at home
- Keep your blood sugar levels in the spectrum that may be right for you
Other Name: Full Foot Test
What it is used for.
A diabetic A foot test is used to hunt for health problems in a person’s feet with diabetes before they cause nonsense infections. The test is used to test the feet for over
- nerve and blood flow problems.
- Drawing damage or injury.
- Shape changes. Configurations of the foot, such as bunions and hammer toes (socks that bend at the top under the skin) have every opportunity to force shoes and cause foot ulcers.
Why do I need a diabetic foot exam?
People with diabetes Usually must be completed diabetic a foot examination at least once a year to prevent nonsense infections. However, in case you are plagued by your feet diabetes In many cases, an absolute foot examination may be necessary.
Your physician or foot doctor (podiatrist) can perform a complete foot examination. A foot doctor is interested in maintaining healthy feet and healing foot disorders. Tell the care provider you see for foot care if you need an absolute foot exam.
It is recommended that you ask your primary care provider to quickly examine your feet at every visit to health care in the direction of this year. If you have an individual diabetes Your doctor will probably want to see you at least once a year to hear how you are feeling and review your personal self-care project. You should also check your feet closely.
If you have any of these foot abnormalities, contact your health care provider immediately.
- Blisters, cuts, bruises, or other foot injuries that do not begin to heal after a certain number of days.
- The skin on your feet becomes red, hot, or painful. These are symptoms of possible infection.
- Callus, a dried blood buildup inside. This may be the first symptom of a wound under the callus.
- A blackened, foul-smelling foot infection. This may be a symptom of gangrene.
What happens during a diabetic foot exam?
A complete diabetic An examination of the feet usually includes the following steps
Information about you. Your health care provider will ask questions about
- The status of your disease. This includes how they interact with you. diabetes Other conditions or complaints.
- Medications you are taking.
- Your footwear. The supplier can check to see if your shoes fit properly and ask you questions about your other shoes. Poorly fitting shoes can cause blisters, calluses, and sores.
Skin test. Your supplier will determine this.
- Examine the skin of the feet for dryness, cracks, calluses, blisters, sores, or other lesions or abnormal areas.
- Check toenails for cracks or fungal infections.
- Check to see if the temperature of the feet is the same.
Nerve examination. The physician will perform several tests to examine the nerves and sensation in the feet.
- Monofilament test. You close your eyes while the doctor threads a soft nylon thread (monofilament) through your leg and foot. If you feel the wire touching your leg, tell your health care provider.
- Fork Setting and Threshold Pulse Perception Test (VPT). Your physician will place a tuning fork or other vibrating device on different parts of your leg or foot to see if you can feel the pulsations.
- Care test. The physician gently presses a pin on the toe to see if it can be felt. The pin should not penetrate the skin.
- Ankle reflexes. The medical professional begins by applying a special hammer to the Achilles tendon, the thick tissue that connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. If the nerve is functioning properly, the foot will autonomously vibrate slightly.
Musculoskeletal (muscle and bone) examination. The health care provider will detect these problems when
- Crooked or overlapping toes
- Whiteness
- Swinging shape of the day toe (Charcot foot)
Vascular (blood vessel) examination. To check blood flow to the feet, the health care provider has the following options
- Feel the pulse in the foot and ankle
- Compare blood pressure readings at the ankles and arms. If the ankle blood pressure is lower than the hand, blood flow to the legs may be reduced. This is called the ankle brace test. Your doctor may perform this test if you have signs or symptoms of decreased blood flow.
Do I need to prepare specifically for the test?
No special preparation is required for the test. a diabetic foot exam.
Are there any risks associated with the test?
There are no risks associated with the test. a diabetic foot exam.
What do the results mean?
Based on the test results, the physician will evaluate the risk of developing an ulcer or infection that could lead to amputation. If the risk is high, your health care provider may recommend that you have a thorough examination of your feet. diabetic Have your feet examined at least once a year.
If a problem is identified that requires urgent medical attention, your ability to recover will depend on the type of problem and its severity. If you have questions, diabetic Please consult your physician after you have had an examination of your feet.
Is there anything else I should know? a diabetic foot exam?
You can protect your feet by controlling your blood sugar levels daily and taking care of your feet. This means the following
- Check your feet daily. Look for scars, redness, or other growths on the skin or nails, a number of warts, or other areas where shoes could wear down. An examination of the soles of the feet is also essential.
- Wash your feet daily. Use warm water and soap. Do not soak feet as this may dry out the skin. After drying feet, apply talcum powder or cornstarch between toes. This will absorb moisture and may cause infection. If lotions are used, do not use them between the toes.
- Consult your physician on how to remove fish eyes and calluses in a safe manner. Thickened skin on the feet can rub off and cause ulcers. However, removing them in the wrong way can damage the skin. Therefore, there is no need to cut the skin or use pharmaceutical pads or water spray.
- Cut your toenails immediately with clippers. If you have difficulty cutting your own toenails, or if your toenails are thick or the skin is crooked, have them cut by a foot specialist.
- Always wear tight-fitting shoes and socks or slippers to protect your feet while walking. Walking around barefoot, even indoors, is undesirable. And make sure the insides of your shoes are smooth. If they are wet, the seams and pebbles inside the shoes are more likely to damage the skin.
- Protect against heat and cold. Use sunscreen on exposed skin and do not walk barefoot on the beach. In cold weather, wear warm socks instead of keeping your feet warm near heaters or fireplaces.
- Allow blood to flow to the legs. Raise your legs when sitting. Rotate your toes and turn your feet in the direction of the day. Do not wear thin socks. Also, apply a large force, such as walking, that is not so taxing on the foot.
- When visiting a health care provider, keep your feet in place. Even if nothing is wrong, it is still great to have a medical professional look at your feet.
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