How does diabetic foot ulcer develop?

As a diabetic, you know it’s no joke. You’ve tried to regulate your sugar intake like tryna keep up with the Kardashians but at the end of the day, there are just some things you can’t control.

One such complication of diabetes is foot ulcers. Diabetic foot ulcers are so common that if we were counting sheep for all cases, we would probably wake up in Neverland or re-invent counting like ancient Sumerians did!

But anyway, back to business…how do these pesky little suckers develop? Let’s break it down into simpler terms:

First Things First: What Causes Diabetes?

Before diving deep into how diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) develop, let’s refresh our memories on what even causes this whole mess.

In simple terms –

Diabetes = Sugar Fucking Up Your System

We’re sorry to be blunt but sometimes that’s just what you need when it comes to understanding complicated medical concepts.

Diabetes develops either because your body can’t produce enough insulin (Type 1 Diabetes) or because it doesn’t respond properly to insulin (Type 2 Diabetes). Insulin is responsible for regulating glucose levels in your bloodstream and helping cells absorb glucose for energy purposes. When you’re not producing enough or responding well enough to insulin as required by your body – hello diabetes!

And everyone with Type 1 & Type II Diabetes stand UP! 👏👏

This disease affects nearly 370 million people worldwide so yes. We feel ya bro/sis.

Tell Me More About These Foot Ulcers

Now that we know what diabetes is and why it happens, let’s dive right into DFUs and explore their intricacies.

What Exactly Are Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU)?

ADFU refers specifically to an “open wound” occurring in roughly about 15% of diabetics2, which could lead to more severe health conditions if left untreated.

And when we say “open wound”, it’s not your everyday paper cut kind of situation (thankfully!). DFUs refer to wounds that extend beyond the surface skin level and drill deep down under the foot due to damaged blood vessels and often a lack of sensation in the feet. Sounds scary, right?

Why Do They Occur In The First Place?

The big cheese – High sugar levels corrode your nerves AND narrow/enlarge/damage blood vessels (by whacking their endothelial cells lined inside) discouraging adequate blood flow especially at pressure points like underfoot , and down towards toes’ endings.

Without adequate blood supply it is very hard for injury healing or tissue repair hence leading vascular complications escalating further causing stasis dermatitis or sudden backtracking cause gangrene too.

Finally resulting into infection if any open sores are made because glucose promotes bacterial growth thereby puncturing sterile membranes for germ multiplication affecting DNA gene expressions ultimately leading to chronic inflammation perpetuated via mal/good immune response keeping hopin’/Prayin’/Lovin 🎶🤘

This cycle repeats itself until you end up with a full-blown ulcer on your foot!

What Are The Risk Factors For Developing DFUs?

Of course, just like everything else in life, certain things can put you at an increased risk of developing diabetic foot ulcers:

• Neuropathy: damage/inflammation/swelling/scaly/fungal infections involving peripheral nervous system .
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD): narrowing or blockages within larger arteries disrupting sufficient circulation
• Poor circulation: Can b caused by PAD or other cardiovascular diseases.
• Foot deformities such as bunions/hammertoes/supination → high-pressure areas → repetitive mechanical stress → breaks scar tissues → reduce oxygen-rich environments
  = Recipe For Disaster 🤦‍♀️
• Poor hygiene: Lack of cleanliness & humid environments encourages bacterial replication and increases risk of infection! simple🚶, but , Most diabetics often forget to check their feet hence inhibiting microbial colonisation.

How Can I Prevent DFUs?

As always prevention is better than cure!

Make sure you’re taking the necessary preventative steps to avoid DFUs altogether. Here are some tips:

1. Regular Foot Inspection – Check your feet regularly for any cuts/blisters/swelling/bruising/redness or skin temperature differences.
2. Appropriate Footwear – High heels/poorly fitting shoes = NO NOs and use a regular foot specialist (podiatrist) 👣
3. Keep Your Feet Clean And Dry – Wash everyday with Luke warm water removing excess moisture by patting it out prior aligning toes powder if needed rather than shaking them too off!
4. Regulation Of Blood Glucose Levels – Control sugar/sweets intake according to your medication dose as well vitamins & minerals incorporation into diet alongside proper glucose monitoring since fluctuations may increase pressures via hormonal levels thus worsening diabetic complications.^

In Conclusion…

We know that developing diabetic foot ulcers can be frightening, but they don’t have to be! As long as you keep up with preventive measures before things even happen alongside medical attention when symptoms do appear, DFUs can become just another thing in life that we cover with our Band-Aids 💉 Ironically covered in Joke-wrappings perhaps? 😉

STAY HEALTHY AND STAY SAFE MY BLOODY DIABETIC BUDDIES!!!