Diabetics are highly susceptible to podiatry-related issues. Long-term diabetes results in damage to the blood vessels, which eventually leads to neuropathy-related complications. In simple terms, it refers to a weakness in the nerves or inefficient functioning of the nerves.

The feet are a part of the body that are largely affected by diabetes, and this is referred to as podiatry complication in medical parlance. It is a condition where the nerves connecting to the feet are damaged, resulting in innumerable consequences.

What is the effect of this?
Those with an open wound end up waiting for a long period of time for it to heal. For a healthy person, let’s say, a wound in the base of the foot might take a week to heal. On the other hand, this wound might perhaps take 3-6 months to heal for a diabetic who does not have excess body weight. For a diabetic with obesity, the wound-healing process could take years. The body does not have the ability to optimally function and heal itself, which results in a slow healing process for diabetics. If the wound is on the base of the foot, the healing process is much slower because the feet carry the body weight. It is the excess pressure through body weight that is delaying the healing process in this case.

What is the learning from this?
A patient of diabetes should be extremely careful about their movements. The base of the foot is highly prone to minor accidents, and something as simple as a blood clot may not be “simple to deal with” for a diabetic. It is also imperative for a diabetic to wear appropriate shoes both inside and outside their homes. On a doctor’s advise, it is best to invest in proper orthopedic shoes that will not just reduce the risk of accidents and wounds but will also take the weight of the body.

What are the prevention techniques?
Medical advancements have brought in state-of-the-art devices to make custom shoes. Since neuropathy causes nerve damage, there are chances that a diabetic with nerve issues will lose the shape of their foot. This is also due to the weaning of bones alongside nerve-related issues. For those who do not have a proper foot shape, technicians ensure that they take the shape of the feet and also perform a pressure analysis. That is the test is to figure out which part of the muscle takes the maximum pressure when you walk. Based on the test, the technicians develop what is referred to as insoles, which can be placed inside the shoes. This will totally take off the pressure from the sole of the feet. It’s wise to note that there are two aspects here; the first is a shoe custom made after taking the shape of the feet. A nontoxic chemical is used to take the shape of the feet, and a closed shoe is made accordingly. The second is an insole that is placed inside the shoes to take off the pressure exhibited by the body weight on the feet. The right pair of shoes with insoles reduces the chances of accidents by 80%.

Another thing diabetes patients should watch out for is weight. Managing weight is key to controlling any podiatry-related issue. As long as a patient of diabetes is able to manage their weight, the recovery process even if they were to undergo any minor or major surgical procedure is much faster.