Why do diabetics need to take good care of their feet?

[StopDiabetes]

It is said that prevention is always better than cure because treatment is costly and many times ineffective.

Diabetic foot problems are caused due to neuropathy (nerve damage), biomechanical abnormalities (frequently a consequence of neuropathy, leading to abnormal plantar foot pressure), reduced blood circulation to the lower limb and super-added infection. Barefoot walking, inappropriate footwear-Hawaii slippers, lack of awareness in patients, home surgery etc can cause or worsen diabetic foot problems.

As we all know, India has nearly 30 million diabetic patients and thus 60million feet are at potential risk. 25% diabetics develop foot ulcers in their lifetime. Diabetic foot is the commonest indication for hospitalisation & requires longest hospital stay. Risk of gangrene is 20 times higher as compared to non-diabetics. It is responsible for more than half of non-traumatic lower limb amputations. 40,000 lower limb amputations are known to occur in India every year. 85% of the lower extremity amputations are preceded by trivial foot ulcer. Amputating limb is not the end of the story. After amputation, within 3 years, 50% of amputees either die or loose another leg. Not only that, treatment of diabetic foot lesions is costly… & majority of Indians are not medically insured.

With better understanding of the disease & advances in the technology, diabetic foot problems can be detected at an early stage. Diabetic having foot problems, if they take good care of their feet, nearly 80% of foot ulcers & 90% of lower limb amputations can be prevented.

[skmishra]

thank u sir

[swastik456]

sir,

I AM DIABETIC SINCE 15 YEARS.I GET LESS SENSITIVITY IN LOWER PART OF LEG.DOCTOR HAS RECOMMENDED VITAMIN B/12.IS THERE ANY SIDE EFFECT OF VITAMIN B-12 CAPSULES? PLEASE CLARIFY.

ANIL DIXIT

[StopDiabetes Diabetes India in reply to swastik456]

Please check your Vitamin B12 Level in your blood. If it is on lower side or even in the normal range Vitamin B12 capsule does not cause any harm. If it is above the normal range, than you can consult your doctor.

[dbanerjee6887]

I am very greatful for this valueable information, Sir.

[caesarcana]

these are things of common knowledge

[ashoky]

er of Sir, I am carrying diabetic disease for the last 20 yrs. Ironically, when I first visited Sabri-malai in 1987, I had to walk barefooted as is the ritual necessity. We were in a troup and on reaching Kerala, we took several day's bathe in various rivers. I was earlier having some problem on my feet. On return from the trip, My legs swoollen and the surgery conducted by a doctor on one of the feet resulted into Gangrene. Thanks to Lord Ayyappa, I was surgically operated in time and amputation was averted. But, I had great belief on Swamiye Sarnam Ayyappa and I continued to visit regularly thereafter, not barefooted but with the permission of my Guruswamy to wear cotton shoes. Really, it helped me and after first instance I visited 13 times in reegular. So saying that the patient having diabetic foot should not walk bare footed but should use cotton slippers but with permission of Guruswamy. I have seen numbers of shrine visitors suffering from feet injuries, bleeding,etc. So, this is my humble appeal to all the visitors visiting Sabrimalai or any other shrines not to walk barefooted. I am one of the sufferer, mind it The Almighty God or Goddess shall never become angry.