What are the symptoms of diabetic foot infection?

Written by Li Hui Zhi
Endocrinology
Updated on September 28, 2024
00:00
00:00

Symptoms of diabetic foot infections can include localized gradual wound ulceration, suppuration, and odor. In severe cases, patients may observe necrosis of the foot with a dark color. Some patients may experience systemic effects, including fever. Therefore, the progression of diabetic foot can be rapid. It is recommended that diabetic patients seek medical attention promptly when they notice any wound ulceration to prevent worsening of the infection.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Lin Xiang Dong
Endocrinology
59sec home-news-image

Where does diabetic foot hurt?

Diabetic foot refers to those with a history of diabetes who subsequently develop skin ulceration and pus formation on the feet, which can progress to localized gangrene or gangrene of the entire foot. This condition is then termed as diabetic foot. It is usually due to three factors: The first is vascular factors, often accompanied by arterial narrowing in both lower limbs, leading to ischemia and hypoxia. The second is neurological factors, typically accompanied by peripheral neuropathy, causing numbness in both feet and insensitivity to pain, thus often pain is not felt. The third factor involves the presence of an infection. These three factors together make it easy for diabetic foot to develop. Therefore, most patients with diabetic foot do not feel pain. However, if the neuropathy is relatively mild or is a painful neuropathy, these patients may feel pain in their feet or at the site of skin ulceration.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Hui Zhi
Endocrinology
41sec home-news-image

Is it good for people with diabetes to soak their feet?

Whether soaking the feet is beneficial for diabetic foot or not first depends on whether there are any wounds on the feet. If it is a grade 0 diabetic foot, where the diabetic only experiences abnormal sensations, numbness, or pain in the foot without any wound, then soaking the feet is permissible. However, it is crucial to be mindful of the water temperature during soaking; it generally should not exceed 40°C to avoid burns. If the diabetic foot has open wounds, foot soaking is not recommended. Soaking feet with wounds can easily lead to increased infection of the wounds.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhao Xin Lan
Endocrinology
55sec home-news-image

How to treat diabetic foot early

First of all, in the early stages of diabetes, it is necessary to control blood sugar to prevent the occurrence of diabetic foot. If diabetic foot has already appeared in the early stages of diabetes, then it is important to prevent the further development of diabetic foot into late-stage ulceration and gangrene. Firstly, proper care should be taken to avoid damage to the skin. Secondly, it is crucial to control blood sugar, complete examination of lower limb vascular ultrasonography or angiography, ascertain the extent of lower limb vascular lesions, and improve blood circulation. If there is an occlusion of the blood vessels in the lower limbs, surgical methods should be used as soon as possible to open the vessels and maintain blood supply, to prevent further deterioration.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Hui Zhi
Endocrinology
31sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of diabetic foot infection?

Symptoms of diabetic foot infections can include localized gradual wound ulceration, suppuration, and odor. In severe cases, patients may observe necrosis of the foot with a dark color. Some patients may experience systemic effects, including fever. Therefore, the progression of diabetic foot can be rapid. It is recommended that diabetic patients seek medical attention promptly when they notice any wound ulceration to prevent worsening of the infection.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Kai
Endocrinology
37sec home-news-image

How to treat diabetic foot pain

Diabetic foot is a chronic complication of diabetes, characterized by arteriosclerosis, narrowing, and occlusion of the lower limb vessels, and peripheral neuropathy caused by multiple factors following diabetes. Treatment mainly involves improving circulation and nourishing nerves, including performing lower limb arterial ultrasound to assess the extent of vascular occlusion. When necessary, stenting or vascular recanalization can be performed, and treatments including stem cell therapy are also viable options. For pain, severe pain can generally be managed by vasodilation and symptomatic treatment.