Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder caused due to absence or deficiency of insulin which is secreted by pancreas
Few main symptoms of DM are:
• Polyuria (Excessive urination)
• Polydypsia (Excessive thirst)
• Polyphagia (Excessive hunger)
• Weight loss
• Simple blood investigations like fasting blood sugar and post prandial blood sugar levels helps in detecting Diabetes Mellitus.
• Fasting blood sugar: Between 80 to 120 MG/DL
• Post lunch blood sugar : Up to 140 MG/DL
Diabetic patients are prone for foot infections due to three main causes:
• Uncontrolled DM
• Peripheral neuropathy ( Sensory loss )
• Peripheral vasculopathy ( decreased blood supply) : One or all of the above causes contribute in spreading small infections faster leading to gangrene & sometimes amputation.
Following are the few simple tips for foot care.
a) Wash your feet daily with warm water. take care that water should not be very hot as it can result in burns.
b) Dry feet properly with cotton cloth or towel especially web spaces to avoid fungal infections.
c) Cut/trim your nails regularly.
d) NEVER walk bare feet.
e) Wear comfortable foot wear (with broad front end).
f) Shop for your shoes in the evening, when size of the foot increases slightly.
g) Wear cotton socks which should be changed daily.
h) Last but not the least, SEE YOUR FEET DAILY. Watch for any callus, corns, ulcers, any discharge or smell. If there are any of these signs, CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR ON THE SAME DAY.
When the blood sugar levels drops below 70mg/dl, it is called hypoglycaemia.
Treatment depends upon the type of diabetes as well as patients. It can be by Oral hypoglycaemic agents or INSULIN. It is better if you consult a diabetologist & take treatment.
This may result due to many reasons like improper diet, failure to take the treatment as advised, lack of exercise etc. To get an average blood sugar level in last three months you can get your glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) done which will help your doctor to treat better.
Yes, brisk walking is a good exercise for you as it burns calories, improves circulation & helps controlling sugar levels.
Brisk walking is definitely a good exercise for diabetics but you should always remember that whenever there is a foot problem or infection, OFFLOADING THE PRESSURE POINT (COMPLETE REST) IS MUST. Pressure on the feet will worsen the problem.
You can take advice from a dietician/nutritionist as to what diet will be suitable for you considering your age & health. But the basic principle is to keep everything in moderation.
Weight loss lowers insulin resistance & there by allows natural insulin to act better & control blood sugar level. It will also reduce blood fats & blood pressure thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular problems.
It’s a very good question, but if sugar increases your blood glucose, other things containing carbohydrates like potato, bread etc also raise the blood glucose the same way. OFCOURSE MODERATION IS MUST. Overeating can be harmful.
Diabetic Neuropathy makes the feet insensate , Patient do not feel the hurt or pain when they get trauma or injury. Hence feet issues are ignored when they start and lead to major complications.
Leg Cramps and aches can be as a result of different causes like Diabetic Neuropathy, Vasculopathy ,Venous insufficiency. You should get the feet evaluated at a foot Clinic and accordingly it can be treated to avoid further deterioration.
These symptoms are because of Peripheral Neuropathy , Strict Sugar Control and proper Treatment can relieve the symptoms.
Gangrene is death of the part or tissue where a part or the entire foot get discoloured (blackish discolouration) as a result of lack of blood supply or bacterial infection.
No, Amputation is not always the end of Diabetic Foot. Unfortunately, some cases may land up in Amputations. But the decision of Amputation (if at all) is to prevent a major risk to the foot or life of the Patient