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FOOT INFECTIONS Understanding the Do's and Don'ts of Diabetic Foot Care. Persons with diabetes routinely attend diabetes teaching clinics where they receive valuable diabetes education. A lot of different information is presented including lists of Do’s and Don’ts of foot care. In order to follow or adhere to a list of do’s and don’ts of foot care it is important to understand the list. As a diabetic foot care specialist I commonly ask new patients what they have learned about foot care. Some are able to repeat a list of do’s and don’ts. When I respond by asking, “Why should do this or why shouldn’t you do that?” the common answer is because, “If I don’t I could lose my leg or Uncle Joe lost a leg to diabetes…” It is a fact that persons with diabetes have a higher risk for leg amputation than persons without diabetes. It is also true that persons with diabetes are individuals. The effect of diabetes will vary from individual to individual. Likewise the feet will be affected on an individual basis. Some persons will be at extremely high risk for foot problems and amputation; whereas, others may not be at much more risk than an average person without diabetes.

DRY SKIN Diabetes can cause peripheral neuropathy or nerve damage to the feet. Most think of feeling loss when they hear the term neuropathy. However, there are other forms of neuropathy. An autonomic neuropathy causes damage to the nerves that control sweating. Sweat is an important way of controlling moisture balance of the skin. If there is not enough sweat on the feet then the skin will dry out and start to crack.

FOOT INFECTIONS What is an infection? An infection occurs when germs multiply and cause damage to tissue. Bacteria cause infections. In order for a foot infection to develop there has to be an opening for the germs or bacteria to get into the foot. In other words there needs to be a break in the skin or an ulcer or a wound. Not all wounds will get infected, but the longer a wound remains non-healed the greater the chance of developing an infection. People with diabetes are more prone to developing wound infections especially those with poor blood sugar control. Foot infections can have serious consequences especially if they are not recognized and treated in a timely manner. Infection can cause serious injury to the affected part and thus needs to be treated as early as possible. Sometimes antibiotics and wound care is all that are necessary for treatment. In more serious or advanced infections surgery may also be necessary.

DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS A foot ulcer is a skin sore or wound. Ulcers can occur on any part of the foot but they are more common on the sole. The skin functions as a wall that surrounds and protects the foot from harmful germs known as bacteria. A foot ulcer is like a crack in that protective wall. Once a crack occurs the foot is prone to invasion from harmful bacteria that can cause infection. The longer an ulcer remains open and untreated the greater the risk of infection.

How long after surgery will my stitches be removed? What may cause my surgery to be canceled? How long will it take for me to recover from my surgery? When can I start driving again? When can I return to work? Will the screws in my foot trigger the metal detector at the airport?

Infection can be caused by a number of different agents. Athleteﾒs foot is an infection of the skin caused by a fungus. Warts are caused by a viral infection of the skin. When most people think about infections they are thinking about infection caused by bacteria. There are numerous types of bacterial infection. Infection generally requires a break in the skin from a cut, abrasion, puncture wound or ulceration. The most common infection is caused two bacteria, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. Both of these infections cause progressive tissue damage of varying degrees. People with diabetes can develop infections by several bacteria at the same time.

A neuroma is the swelling of nerve that is a result of a compression or trauma. They are often described as nerve tumors. However, they are not in the purest sense a tumor. They are a swelling within the nerve that may result in permanent nerve damage.

The human foot is a biological masterpiece. Like a finely tuned race car or a space shuttle, it is complex, containing within its relatively small size 26 bones (the two feet contain a quarter of all the bones in the body), 33 joints and a network of more than 100 tendons, muscles and ligaments, to say nothing of blood vessels and nerves.

Ulcerations, infections and gangrene are the most common foot and ankle problems that the patient with diabetes must face. As a result, thousands of diabetic patients require amputations each year. Foot infections are the most common reason for hospitalization of diabetic patients.

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The most common cause of yellowed, thick and /or deformed toenails is a fungal infection of the toenail. The fungus that infects the nail, most commonly, is the same fungus that causes athletes foot.

Definition Ganglion cyst removal, or ganglionectomy, is the removal of a fluid-filled sac on the skin of the wrist, finger, or sole of the foot. The cyst is attached to a tendon or a joint through its fibers and contains synovial fluid, which is the clear liquid that lubricates the joints and tendons of the body. The surgical procedure is performed in a doc tor's office. It entails aspiration, or draining fluid from the cyst with a large hypodermic needle. The cyst may also be excised (removed by cutting). Encyclopedia of Surgery: A Guide for Patients and Caregivers

Gangrene of the skin is associated with the loss of blood supply of a particular area. In some instances, it is caused by bacterial infection of an open sore or ulceration.

Gangrene of the skin is associated with the loss of blood supply of a particular area. In some instances, it is caused by bacterial infection of an open sore or ulceration. The most common form of gangrene develops in the feet of people with diabetes who also have associated loss of circulation in the feet and toes.

Stiffness of the big toe joint is termed Hallux Limitus. Hallux is the medical term for the big toe. When the big toe possesses no motion, it is termed Hallux Rigidus.