Diabetic foot care: prevention is better than cure

Journal of Renal Care
Beverley Meaney

Abstract

Patients receiving renal replacement therapy especially haemodialysis (HD) are at high risk of foot ulcers which can lead to amputation. With the increasing numbers of patients with diabetes now presenting with renal failure, renal nurses are in a pivotal position to educate patients and initiate and oversee good foot care. This paper describes the risk factors for these patients and discusses general care for prevention and treatment of these factors. Factors such as regular screening which can be done easily and effectively in an HD setting where patients attend regularly is the first method towards prevention. Care and treatment of foot wounds based on results from the author's unit are discussed. The creation of a diabetes care programme for the author's HD unit have resulted in a more holistic approach to the care of the patient with diabetes and renal disease with special attention to foot care, which in turn has lead to an improved standard of care and better management of the patients' diabetes. This paper discusses information from this programme offering a summary of risks and treatments to assist those caring for these patients.

References

May 9, 2002·Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine·Allan M Boike, James O Hall
May 6, 2004·British Journal of Nursing : BJN·Alan B G Lansdown
Oct 9, 2004·Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·Benjamin A LipskyUNKNOWN Infectious Diseases Society of America
Nov 16, 2004·Irish Journal of Medical Science·D SmithJ J Nolan
Mar 8, 2005·British Journal of Nursing : BJN·G RaymanF Gottrup
Feb 20, 2007·Diabetic Medicine : a Journal of the British Diabetic Association·E B JudeUNKNOWN Silver Dressing Study Group
Jun 23, 2009·International Wound Journal·Paula KotzHussein Dharma
Mar 1, 2012·Journal of Renal Care·Jonathan Valabhji

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Dec 19, 2015·The Nurse Practitioner·Bernice S Samuel, Susan J Appel
Jun 9, 2018·Journal of Evidence-based Medicine·Atefeh GhanbariMalahat Khalili
Jan 1, 2015·Healthcare·Michele Shelly Burdette-Taylor

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.