Why does a minor injury on the toe lead to amputation? Diabetic foot, prevention is more important than treatment

A friend sent a message late at night, saying that the elderly man in his family had a broken toe, and asked Huazi what medicine he should use? Huazi initially thought it was just a simple trauma, and told his friend that if the wound was not deep, it could be cleaned and disinfected with some medical alcohol. The friend said that the wound was red, swollen and black, and the bone could be seen, and the elderly man was still running a high fever.

Hearing this, Huazi asked his friend if the old man had diabetes. His friend said yes and that the old man had been taking medicine. Huazi told his friend not to delay and to go to the hospital immediately, as it might be a serious case of diabetic foot, which could be life-threatening if not treated in time.

1. "Minor injuries" delayed into big troubles When the old man went to the hospital, it was found that his blood sugar reached 20mmol/L, the wound on his toe had gangrene, and a large amount of pus was oozing out. The toe bone could be seen from the wound, and symptoms of osteomyelitis had appeared. After debridement, dressing change and drug treatment, the infection could not be effectively controlled. After understanding the risk of the disease, the old man finally accepted amputation.

My friend said that the old man had been diagnosed with diabetes a few years ago and had been taking medicine on his own, but he had not measured his blood sugar. One month ago, he accidentally pricked the big toe of his right foot. The wound was very small, and he simply cleaned it and didn't take it seriously. As a result, the wound never healed, and it became red, swollen, and ulcerated, and the skin turned black, but the pain was not strong, so it has been delayed until now.

2. Why does diabetic foot occur? According to statistics, 15% of diabetic patients will develop diabetic foot in their lifetime. The reason is that if blood sugar is not well controlled for a long time, it will cause peripheral neuropathy and peripheral vascular sclerosis and stenosis, which can easily cause distal nerve abnormalities in the lower limbs, damage to foot tissues, and deformities of bones and joints, resulting in foot ulcers and infections.

Moreover, after a wound occurs on the foot, the peripheral neuropathy causes insensitivity, causing the body to lose its normal nerve protection mechanism, making people mistakenly believe that the injury is not serious and neglect treatment. Due to vascular disease, peripheral circulation disorders will occur, and the local tissue sugar content is high, making it easier for bacteria to reproduce and difficult to heal. It may also cause sepsis and be life-threatening.

3. Prevention of diabetic foot is the key. Once diabetic foot occurs, it is difficult to treat, the treatment cycle is long, and the prognosis is very poor. Prevention before the disease occurs is the most important. People with diabetes must control their blood sugar and monitor their blood sugar. When oral medications cannot control blood sugar, use insulin as soon as possible.

At the same time, you should also control your blood pressure and blood lipids and maintain a healthy weight. Smokers must quit smoking. Diabetic patients who smoke are 15 times more likely to develop diabetic foot than non-smoking diabetic patients.

You should pay attention to self-examination at ordinary times. When diabetes causes vascular lesions, blurred vision and weakened or absent dorsalis pedis artery pulsation will occur. You should seek medical attention in time. It is recommended to have a checkup for diabetes and related complications once a year.

You should also pay more attention to the protection of your feet. During daily exercise, avoid excessive walking and fatigue, pay attention to the hygiene of your feet, and do not use overheated water for foot washing. Choose comfortable and well-fitting shoes and socks, and check your feet every day for injuries or pressure. If your feet are injured, clean them with saline, dry them, cover them with medical dressings, and change them every day.

If the wound on your foot shows no signs of improvement within 2 days, or becomes red, swollen, or hot, even if there is no pain, it is recommended that you go to the hospital to see a doctor, because diabetic peripheral neuropathy may cause loss of pain perception.

In summary, diabetic patients should not take their blood sugar lightly. They should monitor and control their blood sugar to prevent complications. They should take care of their feet and deal with problems in a timely manner to prevent diabetic foot. When oral hypoglycemic drugs are not effective enough, use insulin under the guidance of a doctor in a timely manner without delay. If you have any questions about medication, please consult a doctor or pharmacist. I am pharmacist Huazi. Welcome to follow me and share more health knowledge.