Diabetes Injuries

Diabetes injuries are common and potentially dangerous when unnoticed or left untreated. Prompt healing of diabetic injuries is effective in preventing the onset of infection, which can lead to severe tissue and organ damage.

Neuropathy

• Diabetes injuries resulting from diabetic neuropathy occur because of decreased sensation in the limbs, joint and muscle weakness, and coordination problems, causing frequent tripping, falling, bumping and scraping.

Numbness

• Injuries such as burns, fractures, cuts, scrapes and sores go unnoticed because of neuropathy-related numbness that prevents an individual from feeling pain, causing minor injuries to develop into severe infections.

Skin Breaks

• Injuries that break the skin require medical attention and antibiotics if healing does not begin within a week as untreated bacterial and gangrene infections lead to tissue damage and amputation.

Healing Injuries

• Diabetic injuries to the toes, feet and legs take longer to heal because of damaged nerve fibers and blood vessels, preventing oxygen and blood from reaching and healing the ailment.

Health Maintenance

• Infections resulting from injuries can be reduced by taking preventative measures through daily foot care maintenance, skin moisturizing and routine inspection for cuts, calluses, bruises, blisters, ulcers, fractures and breaks.

Preventing Household Injuries

• Clearing doorways and walkways, being conscious of sharp appliances and utensils, holding railings while using stairs, and covering slippery bath surfaces with traction mats can reduce the incidence of diabetic injuries.