Noteboom The Law Firm

Diabetics: Gangrene and amputation prevention

For diabetics, an injury to the lower legs and feet can be a scary thought and always an eminent threat. That's because diabetics are two times more likely to suffer severe implications from lower leg or foot injuries. The reason for this is two-fold: 1) diabetes can damage a person's nerves which can make it difficult for a person to feel the extent of the damage, and 2) diabetes can stifle the body's ability to heal. The combination of these factors can result in gangrene and in some cases, amputation.

There are a couple of preventative measures diabetics can take to prevent the worse from occurring. A new study reveals that diabetics who perform self-examinations on their lower extremities like checking the temperature of their feet and lessening their activity when they find the temperature is high, showed infection at a lower rate.

Diabetics who suffer from leg pain should see their treating physician immediately if they notice discoloring of the affected leg when it is dangling and if they feel a difference in the temperature of the affected leg. If an arterial problem exists and thus causing the leg pain, the affected leg will be cooler than the other one. Other signs include: 

• Wounds that do not heal
• A change in sensation like tingling
• The absence of a pulse or a weak pulse in the affected area