Which doctor treats a diabetic foot?

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Diabetic foot is a syndrome of skin, vessels, joints and bones of the feet in people with diabetes. The syndrome arises from the high content of sugar in the blood, which begins to exert a toxic effect on the body. In turn, increases in blood sugar are caused by inadequate production of the hormone insulin, which is responsible for the pancreas.

As you can see, the diseaseaffects many systems of the body. So which doctor treats a diabetic foot, who should I contact? As you know, the most effective method of treatment is to eliminate the cause of the disease. Having ascertained the original reason, we will be able to determine which physician's competence is the specific ailment.

Causes and who treats

As mentioned above, the diabetic foot syndrome occurs due to the high sugar content in the blood for a long time. Blood, saturated with glucose begins to affect the tissues of the entire body, damaging the first stop. During the illness, the foot loses its ability to sweat, the skin becomes dry, cracking. Due to a decrease in the level of sensitivity, some of the lesions may go unnoticed. Since the immune system weakens during illnesses, the resistance of the infection is greatly reduced, the lesions heal for a long time, the risk of infection and the development of gangrene is increased.

The hormone insulin, which regulates the level of sugar in the blood, is controlled by the endocrine system. Treatment of diseases of the endocrine system is in the competence of the endocrinologist, and therefore, it is necessary to apply for the initial help and examination to it.

Signs of diabetic foot syndrome

Symptoms of the syndrome are very well defined visually with the naked eye, they include:

• yellowed or ingrown nails;
• foot fungus;
• cracks on the heels;
• long healing and suppurating ulcers;
• corns;
• pain when walking;
• deformation of the feet( for example, the protruding bone of the thumb).

Important! If you find more than half the symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. The disease, in the advanced stage, can lead to gangrene and limb amputation.

Who passes the diagnosis:

1. Diagnosis is carried out by an endocrinologist.
2. In the first doctor conducts an anamnesis: fixes the patient's complaints, finds out the hereditary diseases, the duration of the ailment.
3. Then he examines the foot and fingers for the presence of wounds and alterations.
4. Sensitivity analysis is performed.
5. An x-ray is made to determine the internal changes in the foot.
6. The analysis of blood and tissues taken from wounds is prescribed.
7. The oxyhemoglobin content is measured by oximetry.

Based on the findings, the doctor diagnoses "diabetic foot syndrome", determines the severity and form of the disease, consults and gives advice on further treatment. The endocrinologist prescribes hormonal therapy, and for direct treatment of the foot, the patient is directed to the podiatrist. A podiatrist is a doctor who is engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of ankle diseases.

Forms of the syndrome

There are three forms of the disease:

• is neuropathic, which is characterized by deformation of the foot, small ulcers and calluses;
• is ischemic in which the supply of the foot is disturbed by blood, resulting in the development of gangrene;
• is osteoarthropathic( or mixed) when signs of both forms manifest.

Treatment of

disease An endocrinologist and a podiatrist prescribe a comprehensive treatment of the disease, aimed at eliminating the causes and consequences of the disease, stabilizing the patient's condition, reducing the risk of exacerbation in the future.

1. First of all, insulin therapy is prescribed. Often this method is the only thing that allows you to save the limb from amputation.
2. The doctor also prescribes a course of antibiotics that help cope with infected wounds and promote their rapid healing.
3. In addition to internal treatment, local foot therapy is also prescribed with antiseptic and stretching ointments, antibiotics.
4. Drug treatment is provided, with drugs that reduce blood clotting.
5. Recommendations on foot care are sounded.

The most severe form of the disease is diabetic gangrene, in which the limb is amputated. The amputation is performed by a surgeon.

Recommendations for foot care

It is very important throughout the disease to carefully care for the feet, fix every damage and in time to seek help from a specialist.

Feet feet should be inspected every evening for the presence of wounds, cracks, cuts. Much attention should be paid to hard-to-reach places between the fingers.

It is necessary to strictly follow the rules of hygiene: often wash your feet with warm water with baby soap, change your socks every day, and keep the insoles clean.

For severe forms of the disease, patients should be given the least possible load on the foot, to lead a sedentary or recumbent lifestyle.

The foot skin should be treated daily with moisturizers so that it does not dry out or crack. Take care that the nails do not grow into the finger and there are suppuration, cut the nails should be very carefully, not under the root. To avoid the occurrence of additional mechanical effects on the foot, the shoes should be selected correctly.

You can not wear too tight or too loose shoes, you may have to exclude wearing sandals and sandals. In no case should you use patches and compresses. When reducing the sensitivity of the legs, it is not recommended to use heating pads and electric heaters.

All wounds and ulcers must be treated on time and regularly by means prescribed by your doctor. Thus, the diabetic foot syndrome requires complex treatment of the endocrinologist, the podiatrist, and in especially difficult situations and the surgeon.