Treating diabetic foot infection

Diabetic wound infection is known as one of the common and preventable complications among people with diabetes. According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, about 15 percent of diabetic patients develop diabetic foot ulcers, and 6 percent of them are hospitalized due to wound infection or other complications. Stay with us in this article as we introduce diabetic foot infection, so that with the information provided here you can prevent problems caused by this disease, such as amputation.

Cause of diabetic foot infection: High blood sugar weakens the immune system and prevents inflammation from being controlled, keeping the wound in the inflammatory phase longer and prolonging healing.
Signs of infection from a diabetic foot ulcer: Including red or black skin, high fever, frequent urination, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rash and heavy discharge from the wound

The best treatment for diabetic foot infection: Controlling and containing infection, debriding the wound, controlling wound inflammation and covering it with advanced dressings is one of the effective and affordable treatments.
Ways to prevent diabetic foot infection: Controlling blood glucose, washing your feet regularly, using moisturizer, trimming your nails regularly, wearing comfortable shoes

Diabetic Foot Infection

You are probably familiar with infection caused by diabetic foot ulcers. Many people with diabetes develop wounds on their feet that are slow to heal or in some cases may never heal. This leads to complications such as infection.

Diabetic foot ulcer infection itself comes with problems. If untreated, it spreads to tissue and bone near the wound or to more distant parts of the body. In some cases, if the person does not receive emergency care, the infection can be fatal. You may wonder what causes infections from diabetic foot ulcers. We explain the answer in the next section.

What Causes Diabetic Foot Ulcer Infection?

Medically speaking, the bodies of people with diabetes cannot produce insulin normally. If diabetes is not controlled, blood sugar levels rise, which has negative effects on the immune system and on foot ulcer healing.

The breakdown of excess blood sugar into a compound called dicarbonyl weakens the body’s immune system.

High blood sugar makes white blood cells reach the wound more slowly to fight infection, which delays healing.

High blood glucose levels make bacteria stronger, so it becomes harder for a weak immune system to fight strong bacteria.

Skin Manifestations in People with Diabetes

As mentioned, high blood glucose and the resulting reduced ability of the immune system to fight bacteria are the main cause of diabetic foot bone infection. Diabetic foot infection can be recognized through signs that appear in different parts of the body, such as the skin. If you notice any of the following signs, see a doctor as soon as possible.

Skin rash
Blackening of the diabetic foot
Redness of the diabetic foot
Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
A sore or cut that does not heal
Pain, tenderness and swelling in the foot
White patches in the mouth or on the tongue
A sore or itchy throat when swallowing
Flu-like symptoms (sweating, chills, aches, headache and fatigue)
A dry or wet cough that lasts more than 2 days
A fever above 101 °F (about 38.3 °C)
Changes in the appearance and frequency of urine (bloody or foul-smelling urine, frequent urge to urinate)

Treating Diabetic Foot Blisters

In addition to all the complications of diabetic foot infection described so far, neuropathy, or damage to the body’s peripheral nerves, can also result from this disease. Sometimes a diabetic person’s foot is exposed to a heat source and, without them noticing, the foot gets burned and blistered.

Blisters on a diabetic foot can be treated in several ways. One simple method is to wash the blister with soap and water, dry it, apply ointment and dress it. Bonyan Tajar supplies advanced dressings for treating diabetic foot blisters. Doctors also prescribe aspiration and topical antibiotics to reduce complications and treat the blister.

Treating Infected Diabetic Foot Ulcers

A weakened immune system in people with diabetes is one of the main causes of infection. Various treatments for diabetic foot infection are recommended, including antibiotics, removal of damaged and dead tissue (infection debridement) and vacuum therapy.

Advanced dressings play a special role in controlling and managing diabetic wounds, alongside other treatments, by controlling and eliminating infection with antibacterial silver ions and by managing wound exudate with foams. Each type of dressing has its own features and is used differently depending on the type and condition of the wound. Foam and alginate dressings are effective for heavily exuding wounds. Hydrogels can be useful in managing wounds with necrotic tissue because they facilitate autolysis. Silver dressings (such as silver alginate) help manage wound infection.

Preventing Foot Infection in Diabetes

Caring for foot infections greatly helps prevent amputation, the spread of infection to the blood, and even death. Measures to prevent diabetic foot infection include:

- Wearing comfortable shoes

- Avoiding walking barefoot

- Washing your feet daily with lukewarm water

- Trimming your toenails regularly

- Inspecting your feet and looking inside your shoes every day

- Seeing a doctor to have your feet checked

Using moisturizer to keep your feet soft and prevent dryness

Diabetic Wound Infection: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

In another Medical Magazine article, we discussed diabetic foot ulcer infection and learned that it results from a weakened immune system and reduced ability of white blood cells to fight pathogens. We then reviewed the symptoms of diabetic foot ulcer infection and ways to prevent the disease from progressing.

In closing, we have tried to explain the different aspects of diabetic foot ulcer infection. If you have any questions about this topic, simply contact our team of experts through the comments section for guidance.

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