Bruises are bluish or purple-coloured patches that appear on the skin when tiny blood vessels called capillaries break or burst underneath. The blood from the.![]() ![]() Diabetes and Foot Care - Footcare for Diabetics. Foot care amongst diabetics is incredibly important as foot related complications are common for those of us with diabetes. Foot ulcers for example, which affect as many as 1 out of 1. Even. small ulcers on the foot can represent a serious risk: they may heal extremely. Ulcers can develop into serious lower body infections, with the possibility. Caring for your feet. Caring for your feet as a diabetic should not be difficult, and should be a prime consideration. ![]() This section details complications that may affect the diabetic foot, and some methods and information about care. Why is foot care important? The presence of high blood glucose levels over a long period of time may result in a condition called diabetic neuropathy (damage to the nerves) or loss of circulation in the extremities of the body. It is relatively common for people with diabetes to not feel foot problems until they have developed, therefore it is key to ensure you have regular foot examinations. Diabetic foot complications include: Caring for your feet. Foot care involves reducing damage from occurring to your feet and regularly checking your feet for any signs of damage. Damage to your feet can be reduced by avoiding walking barefoot, wearing correctly fitting footwear and keeping your feet clean and in good condition. This is all the more important if you are suffering from poor circulation and numbness. If you have trouble checking your own feet, you may need to ask someone to help you check them. Look out for any of the following signs of foot damage: Cuts. Bruising. Swelling. Grazes. Sores. Changes in colour. Ulceration. Hard skin. Also be aware of any cracking from dry skin as this could develop into an ulcer over time. Foot examinations on the NHSIt is important that you receive a regular check- up from a health professional at least once each year. If you have signs of neuropathy and/or poor blood circulation, you may need to have a foot examination more often. At a foot examination, your feet will be checked for: Signs of neuropathy or development of neuropathy. Blood circulation. ![]() Any signs of damage. Read more on foot examinations. An ingrown toenail is a painful condition in which the edges of the nail grow into the foot. Learn more about how to avoid it and what to do if it happens. Learn more about the health benefits of apple cider vinegar and its potential link to diabetes. What Are the Different Hernia Types? What Are Causes and Risk Factors of a Hernia? What Are Hernia Symptoms and Signs? When Should Someone Seek Medical Care for a Hernia? Manage your diabetes. Controlling your diabetes with an appropriate treatment regime, healthy diet and lifestyle, and regular exercise will help to reduce the chances of suffering from foot complications. When checking your feet you will be looking for signs of damage and looking for any signs that may indicate any loss of sensation or blood circulation in the feet. Diabetes is the highest cause of amputations in the UK which is why it is important to check your feet daily and notify your health team of any signs of damage. When speaking to your health team, ensure that they know you have diabetes. If you cannot check your feet, ask someone to check your feet for you. Check your feet for any signs of damage including: Blisters. Cuts. Scratches. Bruises. Sores. If you have signs of foot damage, Diabetes UK advise seeking immediate advice from your health team. If your foot damage is treated in the wrong way, or left untreated, it could lead to more serious damage occurring. These can lead to infections setting in and so it’s important that these are treated correctly. Contact your health team for advice on how these conditions should be treated. Signs of nerve damage include: Numbness. Pain. A tingling or pins and needles feeling in the feet or legs.
A burning or hot sensation in the feet. Feet sweating less than usual. Contact you doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. The wound should be cleaned and dressed, protected by the bandage but allowed to breathe. In more severe cases, it may be necessary to wear an orthowedge: a special shoe designed to alleviate pressure on the front of the foot. Further treatment may include the application of a contact cast, heavily padded inside to reduce pressure on the foot. Explore Diabetes and Foot Care. Join the Diabetes Newsletter. Cirrhosis: Incidence, Symptoms, and Treatment. Medically Reviewed by Steven Kim, MD. October 1. 9, 2. 01. Written by The Healthline Editorial Team Overview. Cirrhosis is the severe scarring of the liver and poor liver function seen at the terminal stages of chronic liver disease. The scarring is most often caused by long- term exposure to toxins such as alcohol or viral infections. The liver is located in the upper right side of the abdomen below the ribs. It has many essential body functions. These include: producing bile, which helps your body absorb dietary fats, cholesterol, and vitamins A, D, E, and Kstoring sugar and vitamins for later use by the bodypurifying blood by removing toxins such as alcohol and bacteria from your systemcreating blood clotting proteins. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), cirrhosis is the 1. United States. It’s more likely to affect men than women. Development How cirrhosis develops. The liver is a very hardy organ and is normally able to regenerate damaged cells. Cirrhosis develops when the factors that damage the liver (such as alcohol and chronic viral infections) are present over a long period of time. When this happens, the liver becomes injured and scarred. A scarred liver can’t function properly, and ultimately this may result in cirrhosis. Cirrhosis causes the liver to shrink and harden. This makes it difficult for nutrient- rich blood to flow into the liver from the portal vein. The portal vein carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver. The pressure in the portal vein rises when blood can’t pass into the liver. The end result is a serious condition called portal hypertension, in which the vein develops high blood pressure. The unfortunate consequence of portal hypertension is that this high- pressure system causes a backup, which leads to esophageal varices (like varicose veins), which can then burst and bleed. Causes Common causes of cirrhosis. The most common causes of cirrhosis in the United States are long- term viral hepatitis C infection and chronic alcohol abuse. Obesity is also a cause of cirrhosis, although it is not as prevalent as alcoholism or hepatitis C. Obesity can be a risk factor by itself, or in combination with alcoholism and hepatitis C. According to the NIH, cirrhosis can develop in women who drink more than two alcoholic drinks per day (including beer and wine) for many years. For men, drinking more than three drinks a day for years can put them at risk for cirrhosis. However, the amount is different for every person, and this doesn’t mean that everyone who has ever drunk more than a few drinks will develop cirrhosis. Cirrhosis caused by alcohol is usually the result of regularly drinking more than these amounts over the course of 1. Hepatitis C can be contracted through sexual intercourse or exposure to infected blood or blood products. It’s possible to be exposed to infected blood through contaminated needles of any source, including tattooing, piercing, intravenous drug abuse, and needle sharing. Hepatitis C is rarely transmitted by blood transfusion in the United States due to rigorous standards of blood bank screening. Other causes of cirrhosis include: Hepatitis B: Hepatitis B can cause liver inflammation and damage that can lead to cirrhosis. Hepatitis D: This type of hepatitis can also cause cirrhosis. It’s often seen in people who already have hepatitis B. Inflammation caused by autoimmune disease: Autoimmune hepatitis may have a genetic cause. According to the American Liver Foundation, about 7. Damage to the bile ducts, which function to drain bile: One example of such a condition is primary biliary cirrhosis. Disorders that affect the body’s ability to handle iron and copper: Two examples are hemochromatosis and Wilson’s disease. Medications: Medications including prescription and over- the- counter drugs like acetaminophen, some antibiotics, and some antidepressants, can lead to cirrhosis. Learn About Alcohol’s Effects on the Body »Symptoms Symptoms of cirrhosis. The symptoms of cirrhosis occur because the liver is unable to purify the blood, break down toxins, produce clotting proteins, and help with absorption of fats and fat- soluble vitamins. Often there are no symptoms until the disorder has progressed. Some of the symptoms include: decreased appetitenose bleedsjaundice (yellow discoloration)small spider- shaped arteries underneath the skinweight lossanorexiaitchy skinweakness. More serious symptoms include: confusion and difficulty thinking clearlyabdominal swelling (ascites)swelling of the legs (edema)impotencegynecomastia (when males start to develop breast tissue)Diagnosis How cirrhosis is diagnosed. A diagnosis of cirrhosis begins with a detailed history and physical exam. Your doctor will take a complete medical history. The history may reveal long- term alcohol abuse, exposure to hepatitis C, family history of autoimmune diseases, or other risk factors. The physical exam can show signs such as: pale skinyellow eyes (jaundice)reddened palmshand tremorsan enlarged liver or spleensmall testiclesexcess breast tissue (in men)decreased alertness. Tests can reveal how damaged the liver has become. Some of the tests used for evaluation of cirrhosis are: complete blood count (to reveal anemia)coagulation blood tests (to see how quickly blood clots)albumin (to test for a protein produced in the liver)liver function testsalpha fetoprotein (a liver cancer screening)Additional tests that can evaluate the liver include: upper endoscopy (to see if esophageal varices are present)ultrasound scan of the liver. MRI of the abdomen. CT scan of the abdomenliver biopsy (the definitive test for cirrhosis)Complications Complications from cirrhosis. If your blood is unable to pass through the liver, it creates a backup through other veins such as those in the esophagus. This backup is called esophageal varices. These veins are not built to handle high pressures, and begin to bulge from the extra blood flow. Other complications from cirrhosis include: bruising (due to low platelet count and/or poor clotting)bleeding (due to decreased clotting proteins)sensitivity to medications (the liver processes medications in the body)kidney failureliver cancerinsulin resistance and type 2 diabeteshepatic encephalopathy (confusion due to the effects of blood toxins on the brain)gallstones (interference with bile flow can cause bile to harden and form stones)esophageal varicesenlarged spleen (splenomegaly)edema and ascites. Treatment Treatment for cirrhosis. Treatment for cirrhosis varies based on what caused it and how far the disorder has progressed. Some treatments your doctor might prescribe include: beta blockers or nitrates (for portal hypertension)quitting drinking (if the cirrhosis is caused by alcohol)banding procedures (used to control bleeding from esophageal varices)intravenous antibiotics (to treat peritonitis that can occur with ascites)hemodialysis (to purify the blood of those in kidney failure)lactulose and a low protein diet (to treat encephalopathy)Liver transplantation is an option of last resort, when other treatments fail. All patients must stop drinking alcohol. Medications, even over- the- counter ones, should not be taken without consulting your doctor. Prevention Preventing cirrhosis. Practicing safe sex with condoms can reduce the risk of getting hepatitis B or C. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that all infants and at- risk adults (such as healthcare providers and rescue personnel) be vaccinated against hepatitis B. Becoming a nondrinker, eating a balanced diet, and getting adequate exercise can prevent or slow cirrhosis. The World Health Organization reports that only 2. B will develop cirrhosis or liver cancer. The National Institute of Health reports that 5 to 2. C will develop cirrhosis over a period of 2.
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