Diabetic feet are the result of uncontrolled high level of blood sugar and can become a rather dangerous complication of the disease. This is a real trouble because all the symptoms like diabetic leg ulcers (picture 3) reduce quality of life being painful, itching, often incurable, and demand particular care.
Pics of diabetic feet
Diabetic feet (picture 2) look like swollen limbs covered with spots, hives, corns, sores, even ulcers, blisters. They are characterized by hammertoes, fungal infections, and ingrown toenails. The skin is usually very dry. In practice the diabetes feet symptoms can be different due to the exact problem.
The specialists consider two main conditions connected with diabetes: peripheral neuropathy and peripheral artery disease. In the first case the nerves are damaged and a patient feels numbness – one of the stigmas of a diabetic foot, in the latter case the disease drives atherosclerosis due to fat deposits on the inner walls of arteries. Thus, the blood circulation decreased and the needed nutrients are not delivered to feet.
On both accounts diabetic legs are affected a lot. The most difficult deviations can cause the amputation of toe, foot or even leg. And it all can start just with diabetic rash on legs (pictures below), when a patient scratches and damages the skin. The small wound is turning to an ulcer, which is hardly healed and can result in severe complications.
Diabetic leg ulcers pictures
The lack of oxygen in lower diabetic legs (picture 3) and feet can also be a reason of ulcers. The decreased sensation in lower limbs makes it almost impossible to notice the cut on feet that is why it is remained untreated and can be easily infected. The diabetic ulcers on feet (pictures below) look like round or oval sores of red or brown color. They are not too large but deep reaching the bones when being neglected. The skin around them can be inflamed. The further condition is known as gangrene leg with dead tissues and the dark brown even black skin on affected areas or in the whole. This is potentially life-threatening condition resulting in infection or even its nasty form – sepsis and requires urgent surgical interference.
That is why it is vitally important to look over the body everyday checking all the places including between toes, take a warm but not hot shower or bathroom and dry the skin very carefully. If there is lower leg rash diabetes (pictures at the bottom) it is recommended to begin treatment as soon as possible in order to prevent all the undesired complications.
Diabetic blisters on feet pictures
The diabetics can experience eruption of bullas occurring spontaneously. Such diabetic blisters on feet (picture 4) can be a real disaster as far as a patient is restricted in movements. They are not painful and usually healed during two weeks or a month when the level of blood sugar is balanced. Still it is very important not to damage them and prevent the infection, which can result in ulceration. They are itchy and felt almost in the same way as diabetic rash can trouble with a desire to scratch the affected area. This is one of the signs of diabetic feet (photos below). So, if a person does not know about this special condition and find the bulla somewhere on a lower limb, it is recommended to turn to a doctor immediately and have a medical examination.
Diabetic blisters on feet are usually rather small sometimes achieving the size of 6 inches. They look very similar in appearance to a usual blister arising from a burn. Though, they rarely develop as a single lesion. There are usually two of them on both feet and diabetes (pictures at the bottom) can cause even clusters of them with red or swollen skin around. Each blister contains a clear fluid. It is strictly prohibited to puncture a bulla. They are treated with antibiotic cream and protected with bandage.
Diabetic neuropathy feet pictures
Diabetic neuropathy feet (picture 5) is a result of nerve damage caused by high blood sugar. This deviation can be followed by pain or on the contrary by numbness. And it is a big question, which one is better. If the symptoms are mild, a patient can live with them rather comfortable otherwise diabetic neuropathy becomes disabling and unfortunately fatal in the long run. The pain can be sharp or tingling at night in particular. If the ability to feel pain reduces, a person cannot control the possible cuts and other damages of his feet.
At that the muscles weaken, reflexes become lost and that leads to loss of coordination and balance when moving. In addition the brown spots on top of feet (pictures below) can appear with further development of ulcers penetrating deep into tissues reaching bones. If such a sore happens and doesn’t seem to be healing, it is necessary to turn to a doctor immediately, because infection can turn it worse. Diabetic neuropathy affects toes and feet first, but then it extends to thighs, buttocks, hands and fingers and any other areas of human organism.
Diabetic sores on feet pictures
If there are diabetic sores on feet (picture 6), it is highly recommended to start treatment as soon as possible. They are caused by circulation problems connected with uncontrolled blood sugar damaging nerves. The coloration of diabetic leg ulcers can either be red or change for brown or even black. The border of such wound is usually puffed with callused skin around. It is easy to get diabetic sores on legs (images at the bottom) wearing new tight shoes or walking with a bubble inside a slipper.
Any injury even a small scratch can become a start for ulcer and this stage is much more difficult to be cured. The situation may spin out of control and simple diabetic toes result in a serious and dangerous complication like amputations. It is important to escape pressure sores on feet (pictures below), more often on their bottom, check the skin every day, wash it with warm water and dry with a soft towel. Remembering that any lesion is prone to infection and can lead to diabetic sores on legs!
