What is Diabetic foot, Treatment

  • Limb ischemia affects a large number of Indian diabetic patients
  • A revascularization procedure can save your leg! Functional limb salvage should be attempted in nearly all
  • The advances in technology has got minimally invasive endovascular procedures at par with surgery, even in high risk
  • Mid- and long-term costs of amputation are much higher than vascular Costs and complications are lower and results better if referred earlier

 

MYTHS and Facts of ABOUT  DIABETIC FOOT TREATMENT

  • Technically not feasible to perform
  • High chances for treatment failure
  • Very costly
  • Routinely performed by experts
  • Very good success rate
  • Cost-effective treatment
  • Limb amputation is inevitable
  • Good quality artificial legs are better for lifestyle
  • Rarely required provided timely treatment is carried out
  • Nothing is comparable to one’s own legs

GROUPS AT THE HIGHEST RISK FOR DEVELOPING DIABETIC FOOT PROBLEMS

  • Uncontrolled Diabetes
  • Neglected foot care
  • Associated Neuropathy
  • Associated Peripheral Arterial Disease/smoking

WARNING SIGNS DIABETIC FOOT PROBLEMS

Consult your doctor immediately: if you see any of the following alarming signs on your feet:

  • Wound/ulcer development
  • Abnormal swelling
  • Redness/localized pain
  • Blister development
  • Cuts/injury/broken skin on toes/heel
  • Callus/corn development
  • Nail or toes color changes(blue/black)
  • Burning pains in legs/feet, worsening at
  • Sharp leg cramps after walking some distance
  • Feet feeling cold
  • Tingling, pins and needles sensation, numbness in the feet (neurologic symptoms)
  • Slippage of ‘chappals’ from feet while walking (neurologic symptoms)

 

TREATMENT of DIABETIC FOOT PROBLEMS

How can a vascular surgeon help?

  • Wound cleaning procedure and antibiotics
  • Complete non-weight bearing of the involved extremity (special footwear)
  • Dedicated diabetic foot wound dressing/ vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) dressing
  • Teaching foot care to patients
  • Revascularization or re-establishment of blood flow to the feet for non-healing wounds when

 

Why?: To save the foot, leg.

Goal: To Maximize foot blood circulation for wound healing

DIABETIC FOOT Treatment options:

 

  1. Balloon angioplasty
  2. Vascular stenting
  3. Bypass surgery