Myocardial infarction, stroke, foot sore, amputation of a lower limb, starting a replacement therapy for end-stage chronic renal failure (ESRD): these are the frequent complications associated with type 2 diabetes. figures from the National Institute for Public Health Surveillance (Invs), in 2013, in France, among the 3 million people treated pharmacologically for diabetes, 11,737 were hospitalized for a myocardial infarction (2.2 times more than in the non-diabetic population), 17,148 for a stroke (1.6 times more), 20,493 for a foot injury (5 times more), 7,749 for a lower limb amputation (7 times more) and 4,256 started replacement therapy for a IRCT (9 times more).
“This assessment of complications serves as a reminder of the seriousness of diabetes. These complications, which are preventable, remain frequent and increase social and territorial inequalities linked to the onset of the disease” underline the researchers from Invs.
20,000 patients hospitalized for a foot wound
Hospitalizations for podological complications in particular remain very frequent in the diabetic population in France. Thus, according to this report, more than 20,000 patients were hospitalized for a sore foot in 2013 and 8,000 of them had to undergo a lower limb amputation. For the researchers, reducing the complications of diabetes must go through the management of the associated risk factors: overweight, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking and sedentary lifestyle. Glycemic control must also be optimized because “its effectiveness in preventing complications is no longer to be demonstrated”.
But prevention also requires regular attention that must be paid to the health of the feet: knowing how to quickly spot ingrown toenails, fungal infections (infections due to fungi), light wounds or even a horn causing cracks and crevices helps prevent small wounds do not become infected and result in amputation.
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