Home » Diabetic Foot Treatment – Symptoms, Cost, and Care

Diabetic Foot Treatment – Symptoms, Cost, and Care

If you have diabetes and experience numb feet sometimes, it’s not unusual.

Diabetic foot ulcers affect a whopping 15-25% of diabetic patients. It’s essential for you to be aware of pre-diabetic foot symptoms and the various diabetic foot treatment options so that you can seek medical help in the early stages.

In this article, we talk about what diabetic foot is, how it’s caused, the treatment cost in India, and GMoney loans for medical treatments, among other things. Read on to know more!

What is diabetic foot?

You might wonder, what does diabetes have to do with the feet?

People with diabetes have an increased blood glucose level, which leads to higher-than-usual blood pressure. Prolonged or uncontrolled diabetes can cause this high blood pressure to damage the nerves and blood vessels of your feet, leading to loss of sensation and injuries, referred to as diabetic foot.

When to see a doctor for diabetic foot?

Diabetic foot presents with symptoms like numbness, tingling, pain, or loss of sensation in the foot that can be hard to catch initially.

If you have diabetic neuropathy, that is, nerve damage due to diabetes, you might not realize when you get a foot injury, like a cut, ulcer, shoe bite, or blister.

Source: clancymedicalgroup

If these injuries are left untreated for a long period, lack of blood flow to your feet and generalized reduced immunity due to diabetes can cause severe infection in the area. If the infection worsens, the tissues and muscles of your feet begin to necrose, turning black.

Source: mayoclinic

If you’re unaware of or ignore the signs and symptoms of diabetic foot, the condition will likely progress and get more severe, possibly resulting in foot amputation.

Causes of diabetic foot

The primary cause of diabetic foot pains is long-standing high blood sugar levels due to diabetes. If your blood sugar is high for long periods, you develop chronic high blood pressure, which damages the nerves and vessels of your feet.

However, diabetic foot ulcers or diabetic foot infections can be triggered by other factors in diabetic patients, like:

Obesity
High cholesterol
Poor diabetes management
Poor foot hygiene
Ill-fitting footwear
Corns or calluses
Dry feet
Cuts, scratches, or bruises
Poor nail-cutting technique
Other foot injuries

Experiences of people with diabetic foot

Sonia, 55 years

Shares how she coped with foot amputation, secondary to diabetes.

“It was hard to take my doctor seriously when he initially warned me about all the symptoms and preventative measures of diabetic foot. After having diabetes for almost 14 years, I was used to my condition. Even when I started experiencing foot numbness and ulcers, I didn’t pay much attention to it. I thought it would go away on its own. When I finally visited the doctor, my diabetic foot infection was already severe, and my foot was turning black. The doctor took some scans to check the extent of the infection and said that amputation was our only choice. While I was already devastated with the news, I could not even imagine how I would pay the medical costs of the treatment now.

That’s when the doctor suggested using GMoney to pay my medical bills. At first, it seemed too good to be true considering their hassle-free process and no-cost EMI benefit. But the process was genuinely very smooth, and I am grateful that a facility like this exists for healthcare payments now.”

Soham, 52 years

Shares the symptoms he experienced before foot amputation.

“I work as a clerk at an office, and by the time I go home at night, I’m too tired to care about most things. My diabetic foot symptoms started with corn on the sole of my big toe, which I would cut out myself. Soon, my big toe lost its hair and started turning slightly dark. There was pain and tingling in my toe, which made it hard for me to do my job well, so I went to see a doctor. He asked me if I could feel heat and cold changes in my feet, and I hadn’t noticed that I no longer could. I regret not being more aware of these little things I should have looked out for to treat the infection earlier. Lack of awareness has cost me my foot.”

Symptoms of diabetic foot

If you have diabetes, you should look out for one or more of these symptoms of diabetes-related neuropathy or diabetic foot infection:

Pain or tingling in the feet
Loss of sensation in any part of your foot
Insensitivity of foot to temperature changes
Hair loss in the affected area
Change in color of the skin in the affected area
Swelling
Redness
Pus discharge from cuts or calluses
Foul smell from foot

You should consult your doctor immediately if you notice anything abnormal about your foot health, like changes in the skin or toenails, cuts, bruises, or calluses.

Diagnosis of diabetic foot

When you visit your healthcare provider for a regular foot check-up or if you notice anything abnormal in your feet, the doctors will first ask you a series of questions to understand any symptoms you have been experiencing.

Using various tools, your doctor will examine your toes, feet, and legs for any signs of infection, redness, or numbness.

If your symptoms are consistent with diabetic foot ulcers, your doctor will then ask you to take scans like an MRI or an X-Ray so they can visualize the extent of your diabetic foot infection. In addition, they might take a small sample of your infected skin or any pus discharge, if present, and send it to the lab for testing to confirm your diagnosis.

If your diagnosis is confirmed, your doctor will brief you about the best treatment options for you. Let’s dive into what measures you can expect when treating diabetic foot in India.

Treatment of diabetic foot

Based on your medical assessment, your doctor might choose from various treatment measures to stop the progression of your diabetic foot infection.

Depending on how severe the infection is, your healthcare provider may ask you to take diagnostic tests like an MRI or an X-ray scan and might require you to be admitted to the hospital.

Your treatment plan will depend on your individual case and might involve consulting with a specialist foot doctor or a podiatrist.

Here is what you can expect from treatment procedures for diabetic foot ulcers. To treat your infection, your healthcare provider might:

Clean the wound and drain any pus or discharge from the lesion
Cut away any dead or infected tissue to prevent the infection from spreading further

Apply special bandages and ointments to help the affected area stay dry and heal
Prescribe oral or IV antibiotics to fight the infection
Advise wheelchair usage so you can avoid putting weight on your affected foot
Administer oxygen therapy to promote wound healing and eliminate the growth of bacteria

If your infection has already progressed to the bone, your doctor might advise amputation of the affected area as a life-saving measure.

But, you might wonder about the cost of diabetic foot treatment in different cities in India.

Source: gujarathospital

Cost of diabetic foot treatment in India

Naturally, the cost of diabetic foot treatment will vary according to the severity of your infection and your doctor or hospital. However, on average, you can expect to pay anywhere from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 5 lakhs for diabetic foot treatment in India.

City	Cost
Pune	Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 70,000
Bengaluru	Rs. 40000 to Rs. 90,000
Gurgaon/Gurugram	Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 5,00,000
New Delhi	Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 2,00,000
Kolkata	Rs. 40000 to Rs. 60,000
Chennai	Rs. 40000 to Rs. 60,000
Indore	Rs. 70,000 to Rs. 5,00,000
Noida	Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 2,00,000
Mumbai	Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 5,00,000

This number is a broad range because it depends on several variables like whether you visit a private or a government hospital and whether or not a hospital stay is required.

The cost of care and medication for diabetic patients is already pretty high, and the added amount of this treatment can easily consume your savings.

So, instead, you can consider taking a loan or using no-cost medical EMI options like GMoney to pay for your treatment.

How to pay for diabetic foot treatment with no-cost EMI?

In a medical emergency, the last thing you want to worry about is money. You want to ensure your loved ones are safe and well cared for. With GMoney, you can rest assured as it provides: –

Quality Healthcare

GMoney makes quality healthcare accessible to all individuals. Now, you don’t have to worry about being financially prepared for a medical emergency or a large medical bill.

Instant disbursal

GMoney provides instant disbursals for medical treatments without collaterals and deposits money to the hospital on your behalf even before the treatment.

No-cost EMI

This money can later be repaid by you in a no-cost EMI scheme. This way, you can focus on your health and recovery, or the recovery of your close ones, and repay the medical amount in installments later.

Some other benefits of using GMoney include:

Financial flexibility to pay off expensive medical bills
It covers 40+ specialties, including those that health insurance companies don’t cover
It has a quick and easy processing system
You can get instant approval and advance payments against your existing Mediclaim policy at hospitals that don’t offer cashless facilities

Stories of patients who relied on GMoney for their medical treatments

Nisha, 50 years

Treated her diabetic foot using Gmoney

“My experience with GMoney was very smooth. I received a call from their team within one hour of application, and my bills were cleared on the same day. My mediclaim would take 2-3 weeks to process my claim, and with support from GMoney, I could take care of my health without worrying about the finances”

Raj, 72 years

Got his diabetic foot treated with financial help from GMoney

“I was struggling to pay for my treatment after losing my job. I tried applying for financial assistance from various sources, but the process was long and tedious. A friend suggested that I try using GMoney. Without a second thought, I applied online and was pleasantly surprised when they called me within a few hours. They processed my application and paid for my treatment on the same day.”

Here's what the doctors have to say about Gmoney

In addition, working with GMoney has also benefited hospitals, as they can focus on treating patients without any payment liabilities.

Dr. Prakash Mehta

“Diabetic foot is a complex and potentially disabling medical condition, caused by complications of diabetes. It is a leading cause of hospitalization and amputation in people with diabetes. Treatment may include antibiotics, wound care, offloading or even surgical intervention. EMI and financing options are the need of the hour. It helps patients to choose better and more timely treatments. Happy that Kamaljeet Kaur from GMoney is collaborating with our center to provide patients with more financial flexibility.”

Dr. Praful Lokhande

“I collaborated with Shivkrishna from GMoney, while I was searching for financial help for my diabetic foot patients. Shivkrishna explained the process to applying for financing options. It was simple and hassle-free. I explained the same to my patients. Patients who couldn’t afford the treatments could now get the care they needed. This helped them choose better and timelier treatments, ultimately avoiding hospitalization and amputation. Thanks to GMoney’s financing options, patients received the care they needed without financial stress.”

If you are currently not experiencing any symptoms, you are a step ahead. You’re now aware of what signs to look out for to detect a diabetic foot infection early, and you know your treatment options. But what preventive measures can you take to reduce the risk of developing a diabetic foot ulcer?

How can I protect my feet if I have diabetes?

The best thing to do for your feet, and to avoid complications of diabetes, is to control your blood sugar levels as advised by your doctor.

You should regularly check your sugar levels and blood pressure and take your prescribed medication responsibly.

Source: cdc.gov

Here are some other things you can do to prevent diabetic foot:

Check your feet regularly for warts, redness, bruises, or other abnormal patches. Don’t forget to check the soles of your feet!
Maintain good foot hygiene.
If you are prone to corn, calluses, or shoe bites, ask your doctor to treat them safely instead of trying to cut them out yourself.
If you apply lotion on your feet, avoid applying it between your toes.
Be careful while trimming your toenails to avoid cuts.
Wear well-fitting footwear to protect your feet while walking.
Keep the blood flowing in your feet. Wiggle your toes throughout the day, and get a decent amount of physical activity each day.
Get your feet checked when you visit your doctor, and reach out to them if you notice any injuries.
Avoid applying any chemicals that might irritate the skin of your feet.
Don’t walk around barefoot.
Don’t wear shoes that might give you a shoe bite, and avoid tight-fitting socks and shoes.

If you’re already experiencing symptoms of diabetic foot, you must visit your doctor as soon as possible.

FAQs

1) Can diabetic foot be cured?

Diabetic foot cannot be cured. Diabetic foot is a serious condition that, if left untreated, can lead to amputation. However, with proper management and treatment, the complication and risk of amputation can be reduced. Many patients needlessly undergo amputations because of improper diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

2) Can diabetic foot ulcers cause death?

Diabetic foot, when left untreated, can lead to serious life-threatening complications. The ulcers can become infected if not given any medication. These complications will further result in amputation or even death, in severe cases. Hence, it’s always important to keep a check on your feet for any injury and seek medical help.

3) When to amputate diabetic foot?

When all the treatment options have failed to heal the wound and prevent further infection or when there is a non-healing wound causing pain to the patient, that’s when amputation takes place. Amputation is necessary to prevent further consequences. However, early treatment and proper medication can prevent the need of amputation.

4) How does diabetic foot occur?

Diabetic foot occurs due to the damaging effects of high blood sugar levels on the nerves and blood vessels in the feet. There are several other reasons like: –

Neuropathy
Poor blood circulation
Foot deformities
Reduced immunity

Patients with diabetes are advised to keep a check on their foot and seek prompt medical attention if they develop any wound or infection.

5) Are diabetic foot ulcers dangerous?

Yes, diabetic foot can be dangerous and also life-threatening in some cases, if not properly treated and managed. Without medication, diabetic foot ulcers can lead to severe complications like impaired mobility, amputation or even death.

6) Who can get diabetic foot symptoms?

Anyone with diabetes is at risk for diabetic ulcer symptoms. However, you’re at a higher risk if you have comorbidities or secondary conditions like heart problems or kidney problems. Being overweight and consuming alcohol or tobacco can also adversely affect your health.

7) How long does it take for the ulcer to heal?

Healing of diabetic foot ulcers can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the severity of your infection. Ensuring your blood glucose stays within normal limits is essential for faster healing.

The bottom line

Diabetic foot is a serious but common occurrence in patients with diabetes. Knowing the signs and symptoms, you can seek medical help before any severe infection sets in. Remember to properly care for your feet and conduct regular checkups to avoid unwanted health risks.

If you notice any symptoms of diabetic foot, visit your doctor at the earliest.

With a GMoney loan for medical treatment, you never have to worry about not having enough funds at the right moment in a medical emergency. Get in touch with us and register for GMoney today!

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We suggest you to always seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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Diabetic Foot Treatment – Symptoms, Cost, and Care

What is diabetic foot?

When to see a doctor for diabetic foot?

Causes of diabetic foot

Experiences of people with diabetic foot

Symptoms of diabetic foot

Diagnosis of diabetic foot

Treatment of diabetic foot

Cost of diabetic foot treatment in India

How to pay for diabetic foot treatment with no-cost EMI?

Stories of patients who relied on GMoney for their medical treatments

Here's what the doctors have to say about Gmoney

How can I protect my feet if I have diabetes?

FAQs

The bottom line

Symptoms and signs of kidney stone

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