Diabetic feet need extra care. Even small foot problems can become serious for people with diabetes. Always check with your doctor before treating a foot issue at home.
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder that is increasingly posing a major global health concern with large-scale social and economic ramifications. Estimates are that approximately 285 million people, representing as much as 6.4 percent of the global adult population, were diagnosed with this disease in 2010. In the last five years, there has been a surge in patients with the numbers projected to rise to 430 million due to improper lifestyles and treatment methodologies.
Experts have pointed out two major causes for the increase in patients: obesity and an aging population. Also, recent epidemiological studies have shown there is a large undiagnosed population of diabetics who are often diagnosed with the disease in the advanced stages. Taking this group also into account, the prevalence of the disorder, globally, is alarmingly high.
A Brief History of Diabetes
The Egyptians were one of the first to document the disorder of diabetes mellitus, as is evident in various ancient texts that were discovered by archaeologists. They described it as a disease that caused weight-loss and polyuria. Later, the term “diabetes” was coined, which means “siphon”, for the excessive flow of urine which was a characteristic of the disease. The famous Greek physician Aretaeus wrote about the symptoms in the first century AD. With the recognition that the copious urine was also sweet, the name “mellitus” (which translates as “honey”) was added to the official name of the disease.
Diabetes in Present Times
Today, diabetes mellitus (henceforth referred to as diabetes in this book) is one of the leading causes of premature mortality and prolonged sickness. It claims more lives than the dreaded HIV-AIDS virus. The staggering spike in obesity, coupled with the worldwide emergence of inactive lifestyles, has led to a global epidemic of diabetes.
Researchers have predicted that by 2025, nearly 380 million adults will be diabetic the world over. China, India, and the United States are the three countries most affected. The burden of healthcare will loom heavily over these high-risk countries as diabetes is a debilitating illness that leads to serious, long-term health complications including cardiovascular diseases, compromised immunity, periodontal disease, retinopathy, and nephropathy.
In this book we shall examine in greater detail the causes, diagnosis, risks, treatment, and prevention of complications with regard to the diabetic foot. The objective is to enable readers to gain a holistic understanding of this chronic condition, so that they can take necessary steps to prevent its occurrence, or at least to minimize the risk of deformity and amputation if it has already developed.
Inspect Your Feet Every Day
Nerve damage is a complication of diabetes that makes it hard to feel when you have sores or cracks in your feet. Place a mirror on the floor to see under your feet or ask a friend or relative for help if you can’t see all parts of your feet clearly.
