Diabetic foot disease

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Medicine

Last updated on:
June 15^th, 2022

Medicine

Last updated on:
June 15^th, 2022

Hi there!

You’re looking at a short reference article from Explain Medicine (one of four distinct learning formats available in Clinical Odyssey). Try it out, and have fun improving your clinical skills.

Clinicals - History

Fact	Explanation
Introduction	Diabetic foot disease (DFD) refers to a group of syndromes secondary to the peripheral neuropathy and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) that arise due to poor glycemic control. These can lead to foot ulcers, soft tissue infections and osteomyelitis, potentially leading to hospitalization or even amputation.
Distal neuropathy	Diabetes can lead to distal symmetrical polyneuropathy (DSPN) that typically involves the feet first; and then progresses up the leg. DSPN can give rise to paresthesia, dysesthesia, allodynia, or neuropathic pain; and it increases the risk of ulcers, and bone or joint deformities. Persistent hyperglycemia leads to metabolic changes in the blood vessels that supply the peripheral nerves, causing the loss of nerve fibers. This is believed to be due to disorders of glial cell activation, ion channel expression, and central pain mechanisms.
Muscle weakness	Muscle weakness may develop in the toe extensors and progress to involve both feet. This can lead to muscle wasting and deformity (i.e., “hammertoes”). This is due to worsening motor neuropathy.
Foot deformity	Patients may present with foot deformities such as hammertoes, flat foot, equinus or varus deformities, etc.. Patients may also present with Charcot’s arthropathy. This is due to abnormal walking dynamics, pressure distribution, and trauma caused by muscle wasting and atrophy, combined with the loss of sensation.
Loss of coordination	Patients may complain of loss of coordination or clumsiness of the feet. This is because of large fiber peripheral neuropathy with loss of vibration and proprioception sense.
Peripheral arterial disease	PAD can present with intermittent claudication, acute ischemia, and tissue loss due to ulceration or gangrene. Patients are at increased risk of of infection and lower limb amputation. Reversible ischemia presents as claudication—i.e., cramping and aching pains in the muscles of the calves, thighs, or buttocks that are are aggravated by walking and alleviated by rest. Irreversible ischemia may present with the 6 P's—pain, pulselessness, paralysis, pallor, paresthesia, and poikilothermia.
Ulcers	Foot ulcers are a common complication. These are due to neuropathy, ischemia, and impaired wound healing due to poor glycemic control.

Introduction

Diabetic foot disease (DFD) refers to a group of syndromes secondary to the peripheral neuropathy and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) that arise due to poor glycemic control. These can lead to foot ulcers, soft tissue infections and osteomyelitis, potentially leading to hospitalization or even amputation.

Distal neuropathy

Diabetes can lead to distal symmetrical polyneuropathy (DSPN) that typically involves the feet first; and then progresses up the leg. DSPN can give rise to paresthesia, dysesthesia, allodynia, or neuropathic pain; and it increases the risk of ulcers, and bone or joint deformities. Persistent hyperglycemia leads to metabolic changes in the blood vessels that supply the peripheral nerves, causing the loss of nerve fibers. This is believed to be due to disorders of glial cell activation, ion channel expression, and central pain mechanisms.

Muscle weakness

Muscle weakness may develop in the toe extensors and progress to involve both feet. This can lead to muscle wasting and deformity (i.e., “hammertoes”). This is due to worsening motor neuropathy.

Foot deformity

Patients may present with foot deformities such as hammertoes, flat foot, equinus or varus deformities, etc.. Patients may also present with Charcot’s arthropathy. This is due to abnormal walking dynamics, pressure distribution, and trauma caused by muscle wasting and atrophy, combined with the loss of sensation.

Loss of coordination

Patients may complain of loss of coordination or clumsiness of the feet. This is because of large fiber peripheral neuropathy with loss of vibration and proprioception sense.

Peripheral arterial disease

PAD can present with intermittent claudication, acute ischemia, and tissue loss due to ulceration or gangrene. Patients are at increased risk of of infection and lower limb amputation. Reversible ischemia presents as claudication—i.e., cramping and aching pains in the muscles of the calves, thighs, or buttocks that are are aggravated by walking and alleviated by rest. Irreversible ischemia may present with the 6 P's—pain, pulselessness, paralysis, pallor, paresthesia, and poikilothermia.

Ulcers

Foot ulcers are a common complication. These are due to neuropathy, ischemia, and impaired wound healing due to poor glycemic control.

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