What is the difference between diabetic foot and gangrene, What are their symptoms, causes, and effective treatment methods, Diabetic foot is a condition that affects diabetics, while gangrene is a serious complication that occurs when tissue in the foot dies. We will learn the difference between them in terms of causes, symptoms, and effective treatment methods.
What is diabetic foot
Diabetic foot is a serious complication for diabetics that leads to nerve damage and poor blood circulation in the feet. This increases the risk of ulcers and infections that may lead to amputation.
What is gangrene
Gangrene is a potentially serious condition that occurs when tissue in the feet dies due to decreased blood flow or severe infection. It usually affects the extremities, including the toes and fingers.
Symptoms of diabetic foot and gangrene
Symptoms of diabetic foot include:
- Tingling in the feet.
- Pain when standing or walking.
- Loss of sensation in pain or temperature in the feet.
- Muscle weakness and difficulty moving.
- Change in foot temperature.
- Change in skin color.
- Open wounds or sores.
- Slow-healing wounds.
- Dry, cracked skin.
- Pus or foul-smelling discharge.
- Swelling in the foot or ankle.
Common symptoms of gangrene include:
- Skin color changes to black, red, or brown, then gray.
- Severe pain and loss of sensation in the affected area.
- Sores or blisters in the affected area.
- Foul-smelling discharge.
- Skin swelling in the affected area.
Causes of Diabetic Foot
The main causes of diabetic foot include:
- Diabetic neuropathy, which is damage to the peripheral nerves caused by high blood sugar, causing loss of sensation.
- Poor circulation in the feet due to diabetes.
- Weakened immunity, as high blood sugar reduces the immune system's ability to fight bacteria.
What causes gangrene
Gangrene is primarily caused by poor blood flow to tissues or a bacterial infection. These causes are associated with vascular disease, diabetes, and a weakened immune system, and can lead to numerous injuries such as burns, deep wounds, or accidents.
Factors that Increase the Risk of Diabetic Foot
Factors that increase the risk of diabetic foot include:
- Wearing tight shoes or walking barefoot.
- Suffering wounds or bruises on the feet.
- High cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
- Neglecting foot hygiene.
- Smoking or alcohol consumption.
What is the difference between diabetic foot and gangrene
Diabetic foot is a common condition in diabetics that leads to nerve damage and poor circulation in the feet, while gangrene is a serious condition that occurs when tissue in the feet dies as a result of decreased blood flow or severe infection.
Treatment of Diabetic Foot
The treating physician cleans diabetic foot wounds and bandages them with special dressings, such as those containing silver compounds, to promote healing.
He or she may prescribe oral or intravenous antibiotics to control the bacterial infection in the diabetic foot and prescribe medications to improve blood flow to the feet.
Surgical treatment may be required, including a therapeutic catheterization procedure to open blocked blood vessels in the foot and remove dead tissue to stimulate the healing process.
How to Prevent Diabetic Foot
There are methods that can be followed to prevent diabetic foot, including:
- Control blood sugar to prevent diabetic foot complications and promote wound healing.
- Avoid wearing comfortable shoes and soft socks to protect the feet from friction.
- Wash your feet daily with warm water, dry them well, and moisturize them.
- Relieve pressure on the feet.
- Avoid walking barefoot.
- Practice physical activity, such as walking, as it improves blood flow to the feet.
- Quit smoking, as it reduces blood flow in the blood vessels.
Gangrene Treatment
Gangrene treatment depends on the patient's condition. The treating physician prescribes antibiotics to treat the bacterial infection causing the gangrene.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is prescribed, as it helps carry more oxygen into the blood and aids tissue healing.
In severe cases, doctors may resort to amputation, such as amputation of a toe or foot, to save the patient's life if other treatments fail to save healthy tissue.
Methods of Preventing Gangrene
There are some tips that can help reduce the risk of developing gangrene:
- Control blood sugar levels.
- Regularly check your hands and feet for wounds or ulcers.
- Lose weight, as being overweight increases your risk of diabetes.
- Check for signs of frostbite, as it reduces blood flow to the affected area of the body.
- Avoid smoking or using tobacco.
Summary of the Difference Between Diabetic Foot and Gangrene
The primary difference is that diabetic foot is a condition that often begins with wounds and ulcers, while gangrene is tissue death that occurs as the condition worsens.
Diabetic foot is a condition caused by damage to the nerves and blood vessels caused by diabetes, leading to ulcers and wounds that are difficult to heal. Gangrene, on the other hand, is a more serious condition and a complication of diabetic foot that may lead to amputation.