Diabetic foot pain and ulcers

Foot ulcers are a common complication of poorly controlled diabetes, as they form as the skin tissue breaks down and exposes the layers underneath. It is most common under your big toes and the ball of your feet, and it can affect your feet all the way to the bones. All people with diabetes can develop foot ulcers and foot pain, but good foot care can help prevent them. The treatment for diabetic foot ulcers and foot pain varies according to their causes. Discuss any foot pain or discomfort with your doctor to make sure it is not a serious problem, as an infected sore can lead to amputation if neglected.

Symptom identification and diagnosis

One of the first signs of a foot ulcer is a discharge from your feet that may stain your socks or drip onto your shoes. Swelling, irritation, redness, and odor on one or both feet are common early symptoms of a foot ulcer. The most obvious sign of a serious foot ulcer is the black tissue surrounding the sore. This forms due to the lack of healthy blood flow to the area around the ulcer. Partial or complete gangrene, which indicates tissue death due to inflammation, can appear around the ulcer. In this case, a fragrant discharge, pain, and numbness can sometimes occur. Signs of foot ulcers are not always evident. Sometimes, you won’t have symptoms of a ulcer until the sore becomes infected.

Causes of diabetic foot pain and ulcers

Diabetic ulcers are most commonly caused by:

1. High blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
2. Nerve damage: Nerve damage is a long-term effect and can lead to loss of feeling in your feet. Damaged nerves can feel tingling and painful at first. Nerve damage reduces your sensitivity to foot pain and results in painless wounds that can cause ulcers
3. Irritated or broken feet
4. Poor circulation is a form of vascular disease in which blood does not flow to your feet efficiently. Poor circulation can also make an ulcer more difficult to heal. High glucose levels can slow the healing process of an infected foot ulcer, so managing your blood sugar is critical.

Treatment of diabetic foot ulcers

The treatment of diabetic foot ulcers depends on the following therapeutic triangle:

Regulating the cumulative blood sugar level
Treating infections with antibiotics and topical cleaning
Physical therapy: It is a mas that we will talk about:

1. Physical therapy is an indispensable supplement in the treatment of diabetic foot and its ulcers, including:
2. Electrical stimulation (using specific waves of a certain intensity)
   Ultrasound (as its ability to conduct heat deep into the tissue helps blood flow and contributes to wound healing.
   Infrared heat
3. Magnetic wave therapy
4. Radiofrequency (this type of injection reduces nerve inflammation and restores vitality to the foot)
5. Ozone injection (ozone gas injection is one of the methods that contribute to an abundance of oxygen flow (the most important element in raising inflammation and nourishing tissues)