Diabetic Foot Infection

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  DR.  TARIK  TTORKI DR.TTORKI@ @YAHOO.C COM Y  FOR  HEA ALTHY  LIFFE   YOUR   WAY   HTTTP://TARIKTTORKI.JIMDO O.COM

Diaabetic Foot Infectionn: Whhat Youu Shouldd Know w Whhat is a diaabetic fooot infectioon? It is an infection inn the skin, muuscles, or bones of the foott in people whoo have diabetes.

Whhat causess it? ™ Over time, higgh blood sugaar levels causee changes to the t skin, nervves, and bloodd vessels in the feet. ™ If you have daamaged nervees, you may loose feeling in your y feet and you won't be able to feel small cuts, scrapess, blisters, or even pressurre from shoess, which can cause callusess or other problems. ™ These minor problems cann turn into opeen sores (called ulcers) or serious infecctions. ™ Damage to blood vessels slows s blood floow to the foot and slows woound healing. ™ This increasees the risk of getting g an infeection that maay require rem moval of the iinfected area or amputation off the foot.

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How can I tell if I have one? ™ An ulcer on your foot does not always mean that you have an infection. ™ Infections can cause constant pain, redness around an ulcer, warmth and swelling, pus, or an ulcer that does not heal. ™ You should see your doctor as soon as possible if you have any of these signs. ™ You should also see your doctor or go to the hospital right away if you have fever or chills, have red streaking or redness spreading out from a wound, or if blood is constantly draining from the wound. ™ These can be signs of a very bad infection.

How is it treated? ™ Antibiotics are usually used to treat the infection. ™ If you have an infection that has moved into the deeper layers of the foot, such as the muscle or bone, you will be sent to the hospital and given antibiotics through an IV. ™ Any dead or infected tissue will be removed. ™ Some people with poor circulation may need surgery to improve blood flow to the foot and to avoid amputation. ™ The wound should start to heal in two to three days. ™ Your doctor will check the wound at least once a week to make sure it is healing. ™ You may need a nurse to help you at home with wound care. ™ You may also have to wear a cast or special shoes to protect the wound area. ™ You should stay off your foot as much as possible and keep your foot raised.

How can I prevent it? ™ Control blood sugar levels to prevent damage to blood vessels and nerves. ™ Check your feet, including between your toes, every day for sores and cuts. Tell your doctor right away if you notice a problem. ™ Have your doctor check your feet at least once a year. ™ Keep your feet clean, dry, and warm.

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  DR.  TARIK  TTORKI DR.TTORKI@ @YAHOO.C COM Y  FOR  HEA ALTHY  LIFFE   YOUR   WAY   HTTTP://TARIKTTORKI.JIMDO O.COM ™ Always wear shoes that fitt well to avoid rubbing and pressure. Donn't go barefooot, even at hom me, because this increases thee risk of injuryy. ™ Trim your toeenails along thhe shape of thhe toe and file the nails to remove r sharp edges. ™ If you have neerve damage, don't trim toeenails yourself. You shouldd see your docctor or a podiatrist (a doctor who sppecializes in foot f care) for even minor foot procedures. ™ Do not smokee.

Thiss handout prrovides a geeneral overvview on thiss topic and may m not apply to everyoone. To find f out if this handout applies a to yoou and to geet more infoormation on this subjecct, talk to your fam mily doctor. Visit HTTP://TARIKTORKI T .JIMDO.COM M for inform mation on thhis and manny other heaalthrelaated topics.