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Amputation and Diabetes: How to Protect Your Feet
Yahoo! Lifestyle ^ | August 29, 2018 | Self Magazine

Posted on 08/30/2018 8:52:19 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Diabetes complications can include nerve damage and poor blood circulation. These problems make the feet vulnerable to skin sores (ulcers) that can worsen quickly.

The good news is that proper diabetes management and careful foot care can help prevent foot ulcers. In fact, better diabetes care is probably why the rates of lower limb amputations have gone down by more than 50 percent in the past 20 years.

When foot ulcers do develop, it's important to get prompt care. More than 80 percent of amputations begin with foot ulcers. A nonhealing ulcer that causes severe damage to tissues and bone may require surgical removal (amputation) of a toe, foot, or part of a leg.

Some people with diabetes are more at risk than others. Factors that lead to an increased risk of an amputation include:

•High blood sugar levels
•Smoking
•Nerve damage in the feet (peripheral neuropathy)
•Calluses or corns
•Foot deformities
•Poor blood circulation to the extremities (peripheral artery disease)
•A history of foot ulcers
•A past amputation
•Vision impairment
•Kidney disease
•High blood pressure, above 140/80 millimeters of mercury (mmHg)

Here's what you need to know to keep your feet healthy, the signs you need to see a doctor and what happens if amputation is necessary....

(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Outdoors
KEYWORDS: amputation; diabetes; health; justcutthemoff; mobility
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My wife and I just went through this in December so I don't want to see it happen to any of you.
1 posted on 08/30/2018 8:52:19 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

My father recently had a toe amputated because of a diabetic ulcer. I’m diabetic myself, so I take very good care of my feet.


2 posted on 08/30/2018 8:58:35 PM PDT by Simon Green ("Arm your daughter, sir, and pay no attention to petty bureaucrats.")
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Thanks for this important information .


3 posted on 08/30/2018 9:09:13 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
I have a relative with diabetic retinopathy on metformin and another on metformin for “light” diabetes. The latter has chronic venous insufficiency.

Since going on a lower carb diet, the blood sugar of both is no longer a problem. The concern is that both crave carbs for now.

4 posted on 08/30/2018 9:11:34 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
blood circulation: magnesium

diabetes: chromium and vanadium

5 posted on 08/30/2018 10:24:55 PM PDT by Salvavida
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To: ConservativeMind; Dilbert San Diego

It makes everything 50-100% harder. Just getting food from the freezer or an upper shelf, cooking, doing the dishes ... everything. And we have to have everything delivered now.


6 posted on 08/30/2018 10:26:17 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You cannot invade the mainland US. There'd be a rifle behind every blade of grass.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I’m sorry for wife’s experience.

My mom coats her feet nightly with Watkins salve, which has eucalyptus to prevent that.

Vick’s vaporub could be useful as well.


7 posted on 08/30/2018 10:39:21 PM PDT by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death by cults.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I’m sorry to hear of your trauma, I know it’s tough because I lost a friend a little over a year ago who suffered with diabetic foot and leg issues for years. They’d gotten his legs in the best shape in years when something else got him, but it would have gone a lot easier if he’d followed this advice earlier.


8 posted on 08/30/2018 10:56:25 PM PDT by bigbob (Trust Sessions. Trust the Plan.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Just lost another toe last Friday. Time to change my handle.


9 posted on 08/30/2018 10:57:18 PM PDT by Jimmy4Toes (Proud Redneck in the Green Mountain State.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

supposedly Manuka honey can heal bad ulcerated skin- I don’t know if it’s true or not- haven’t tried it or needed to but look into it- might be worth pursuing- and get medical grade manuka IF you find you would like to try it- which you can purchase off amazon


10 posted on 08/30/2018 11:49:00 PM PDT by Bob434
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To: Simon Green

I have burns and blistering on both sides of my right ankle. The likely reason is setting the heating pad too high. I discovered the inner burn while inspecting my feet. The outside burn just kinda showed up 3 days later when it became painful when the blister popped all on it’s own.

The inner burn has healed while I’m still struggling with the outer burn. It’s fine when I put a dry bandage on, but hurts like hell unbandaged (while walking) A nurse visits me once a week at home and I have to remind her to check up on it during her visits. At this stage she say’s I’m supposed to keep it dry and open and elevated to help speed the healing. I think it has to do with heal cracking around the wound. Other than an Epsom salt with tea tree oil and Eucalyptus I don’t do anything except a dry bandage every other day and a few squirts of Hydrogen peroxide on the no bandage days.

Any comments or suggestions? Anybody familiar with Hospice care and whether they withhold life threatening developments?


11 posted on 08/30/2018 11:53:10 PM PDT by Fhios (♫ Oh Where have you been Jeffy boy Jeffy boy oh where have you been charming Jeffy?)
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To: ConservativeMind
Since going on a lower carb diet, the blood sugar of both is no longer a problem. The concern is that both crave carbs for now.

My MD has put me on a low-carb diet, which takes away everything I like!

12 posted on 08/31/2018 12:15:11 AM PDT by Does so (No mention of "Brown Shirts" on this page?)
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To: Jimmy4Toes; All

Lost 2 toes and several foot bones on my right foot still have small sore on the bottom keeping it in check is a daily thing

Lost my left leg last year to just below the knee the infection snuck up on me through calluses lost the whole bottom of my foot before the amputation

diabetes is very hard to keep under control when your pancreas doesn’t work right diet and exercise help some people not all never was a sweet eater or a soda drinker

ive had kidney cancer most likely caused by diabetes so they say we got it before it metastasized so i only lost 1/3 of my kidney

All i can tell folks is don’t let the calluses build up on your feet AT ALL and don’t clip your toenails to short keep your feet clean and believe it or not if you live near the ocean wading through the ocean everyday will cut down on sores greatly because it will put minerals back into your skin

rub your legs massage them or have a loved one massage them every day to keep the circulation working well because stagnant water in your legs will cause Cellulitis which if not kept under control or gone completely can kill you because it will spread throughout your body quickly !!

Be safe out there


13 posted on 08/31/2018 1:18:27 AM PDT by ATOMIC_PUNK (;I'm not a psychopath, I'm a high-functioning sociopath. Do your research.” Sherlock Holmes)
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To: Jonty30
Vick’s vaporub could be useful as well.

Vick's is effective against toenail fungus.

But you do have to be patient. Two or three applications a day, for months.

14 posted on 08/31/2018 1:27:56 AM PDT by cynwoody
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To: cynwoody

My mom doesn’t do it for a time. It is a perpetual thing for her, but it is protective.


15 posted on 08/31/2018 1:39:29 AM PDT by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death by cults.)
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To: Jonty30

www.metanx.com


16 posted on 08/31/2018 2:49:17 AM PDT by personalaccts (Is George W going to protect the border?)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I take Jardiance and Tresiba and they help greatly.


17 posted on 08/31/2018 4:26:51 AM PDT by HChampagne (Cruz supporter but I will support and vote for Trump.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Will pass this on to my best friend who is diabetic.

Thanks 2DV


18 posted on 08/31/2018 4:32:47 AM PDT by Bobalu (12 diet Cokes and a fried chicken...)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Thanks. I have problems with diabetes and I need to do a better job addressing it.

Problem is that there is a lot of confusion — Especially related to diet.


19 posted on 08/31/2018 4:34:35 AM PDT by boycott
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To: HChampagne
I take Jardiance

Doc put me on Jardiance, to help control my blood sugar.

I stopped taking it as when I needed to urinate, which was often, it was I need to go NOW, as in right now.

Almost peed myself a couple of times stuck in traffic.

Switched me to Glimapeide instead.

20 posted on 08/31/2018 4:35:31 AM PDT by Popman ("GOD´S NOT LOOKING FOR PARTNERSHIP WITH US, BUT OWNERSHIP OF US")
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