The first heat wave warning of this year was issued this month, and the heat of summer has begun in earnest, but there is something more frightening than the heat for diabetic patients. Summer is the season to be careful of diabetic foot disease, a complication of diabetes, which is also called ‘diabetic foot’.
According to the National Health Information Portal of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the 5th, diabetic foot disease refers to foot problems such as foot ulcers that occur in the feet of people with diabetes. Diseases such as diabetic neuropathy or peripheral vascular disease cause the skin or mucosal tissues of the feet to break down, resulting in ulcers.
It is known that 15-25% of diabetic patients will suffer from a foot ulcer at least once in their life, and more than half of them experience complications due to infection. About 20% of patients with moderate to severe infection will undergo surgery to amputate part of the foot.
Experts unanimously say that you should be careful of ‘diabetic feet’ especially in summer when you expose a lot of bare feet.
When diabetic foot progresses, even if there is a wound on the foot, it is not felt well. Since the healing power and bacterial resistance are low, even minor wounds can progress rapidly and lead to serious complications such as ulcers and gangrene토토사이트.
Professor Jeong Chang-hee of the Endocrinology Department at Seoul Asan Medical Center said, “Be especially careful in summer when it is easy to go barefoot. New summer shoes worn on bare feet can be dangerous for diabetic foot patients.”
Professor Jeong said, “Avoid shoes that don’t fit, and check if there are foreign substances on the inside of the shoes before putting them on.” “If the color of your feet turns red or black, or if blisters or ulcers occur, it’s good to visit a hospital,” he said. requested
Seoul National University Hospital Endocrinology and Internal Medicine Professor Kwak Soo-heon also advised, “When going out, protect your feet and be careful not to get hurt.
He also said, “Even when going to the beach in summer, it is better to wear socks and comfortable sneakers rather than sandals or slippers that expose bare feet.”
The best treatment for diabetic foot is continuous management. Experts explained that you can prevent losing your feet due to small injuries if you wash your feet clean and then dry them well, pay attention to the wounds, and seek medical attention promptly in case of abnormalities.