How to Prevent Amputation in Diabetics

Diabetics are prone to many health complications. Diabetes is associated with poor blood circulation, as well as nerve damage. These can cause numbness, particularly in the extremities. This nerve damage is called neuropathy. Diabetics who suffer from neuropathy may eventually need an amputation, because they are not likely to feel the pain that comes from being injured. If the wound becomes infected, an amputation may be necessary to save the patient's life. If you are diabetic, take preventative measures every day to ensure your maximum health.

Things You'll Need

• Shoes
• Disinfectant
• Antibiotic cream
• Lotion

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Instructions

• 1

  Check your feet every day for any abnormalities. If you have trouble seeing all of your feet--for example, the soles--ask someone else to check them for you. Signs of a fracture include redness, warmth, swelling and changes in shape or size. Check for any discoloration, rashes, swelling, cuts, sores, scrapes or other injures. Determine whether your nails have changed appearance, such as whether they are thickened, yellow or striped.

• 2

  See your doctor on a regular basis and have a foot exam done every year. In this exam, your doctor will check your circulation and look for discoloration and changes in the appearance of your feet. She'll also check the level of sensation in your feet.

• 3

  Wear shoes that fit properly at all times. Do not walk around barefoot or even in only socks, especially if you have neuropathy. You may not register any sensation or pain. If an object becomes lodged in your foot, causing an injury, you're not likely to feel it. It's also a good idea to check inside your shoes before you put them on. You may not notice if your shoe is housing a foreign object.

• 4

  Educate yourself about the proper care of foot injuries. If you do notice a cut or a scrape, treat it immediately. Apply a disinfectant, such as hydrogen peroxide. Then apply a layer of antibiotic cream (such as bacitracin) and bandage it. Call your doctor if you have any doubts.

• 5

  Treat cracked, dry skin with a strong lotion daily. As a diabetic with poor circulation, you are especially susceptible to developing dry skin. If your skin cracks, you may develop sores that could become infected.

• 6

  See your doctor immediately if you develop any unexplained pain. Because you are susceptible to restricted blood flow and narrow blood vessels, you may develop a blocked artery. Surgery may be able to treat this. However, there's a chance that the surgery might fail. If this is the case, you may need an amputation.