Diabetic foot - symptoms

Diabetic foot (diabetic foot syndrome) is a frequent complication of diabetes, which occurs 15 to 20 years after the onset of the disease. In most cases this syndrome develops in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetic foot is a ulcerative-necrotic lesion of the skin, soft tissues, as well as osteoarticular foot tissue (in severe cases).

Causes of diabetic foot syndrome

Among the main factors are the following:

1. A foot is a part of the body that undergoes a high load and is often injured, especially with diabetes, because skin due to the disease the skin becomes very dry, hyperkeratoses often appear on the feet.
2. High blood sugar and sharp jumps of its level are destructive to nerves and blood vessels, which leads to disruption of innervation, blood supply and trophic tissue of the foot.
3. As a result of reduced innervation and impaired blood circulation, the patient does not immediately notice minor injuries (cuts, bruises, cracks), besides the protective function of tissues also decreases. Because of this, even minor injuries can lead to long-term non-healing wounds, which in case of infection turn into ulcers.

Forms and symptoms of diabetic foot syndrome

There are several types of diabetic foot, characterized by different signs.

Ischemic form

The first sign of the development of the diabetic foot in this case is the pain in the legs, which appears at first only when walking, but later disturbing even in a state of rest. Pain and discomfort changes change the intensity and character when you change the position of your legs, interfere with sleep and rest. The feet become pale, cold to the touch, can acquire a cyanotic shade, and also their puffiness can be noted.

With the onset of ulcers, the pain intensifies, while the edges of the skin defects are characterized by unevenness. A characteristic symptom of the ischemic form of the diabetic foot syndrome is also the weakening or disappearance of pulsations in the arteries of the feet, but sensitivity is preserved to the full, and deformations do not develop. This form of the syndrome is often accompanied by the development of dyslipidemia and hypertension.

Neuropathic form

This complication of diabetes is associated with damage to the structures of the nervous system. Firstly, on the foot in places that are most stressed, the skin thickens. After this, ulcers may appear, as well as changes in the shape of the foot. The characteristic signs of the neuropathic form of the diabetic foot are a feeling of numbness, burning, the appearance of "goose bumps" in the legs, and redness of the skin of the feet.

In the absence of treatment, the damaged areas of the foot completely lose sensitivity. There is an increase in the pain threshold, as a result of which patients do not feel injuries. On the feet often appear calluses, as well as ulcers that have even edges. In this case, the pulse on the arteries of the foot does not change.

Mixed form

This type of diabetic foot syndrome occurs most often. Mixed form is characterized by the symptoms inherent in the two previous forms of diabetic foot.

Diagnosis of the diabetic foot

Diagnostic measures for detecting diabetic foot symptoms include the following:

1. Gathering anamnesis, physical examination - the expert interrogates the patient, conducts a measurement of body temperature, pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate. Also, a thorough examination of the affected areas, probing the wound to determine its depth, etc. is carried out.
2. Laboratory tests: blood tests, testing of renal function and liver enzymes, etc.
3. X-ray of the legs - to detect possible damage to bone tissue, the presence of foreign bodies and gas in soft tissues.
4. Ultrasonic dopplerography - to detect violations of blood flow in the vessels of the neck, head, eyes, lower and upper extremities.
5. Angiography is a research method that allows to determine the state of vessels and pathological processes in the organs associated with changes in blood and lymph circulation.
6. Consultations with narrow specialists.