The Charcot Foot Condition - A Little Known Diabetes Complication by:Belver Ladson

Charcot Foot disease is a little known complication that can affect anyone who has diabetes

. This condition also occurs in non-diabetic patients too, but diabetics can be more prone to this disease due to a diabetic complication known as neuropathy (nerve damage) Nerve damage can stop someone from feeling pain, so the foot can get injured without the person being aware that something is wrong.

The Charcot Foot condition is a very serious condition. Joints and bones can literally be crushed without being known to the sufferer. Imagine breaking your foot and not knowing that it's broken due to no pain being felt. As time wears on, those broken bones (and sometimes joints) can suffer irreparable damage, with the person walking on the foot normally instead of the foot being in a cast and trying to heal.

Once this damage happens the foot can become misshapen, become dislocated, warm to the touch, and the arch of the foot can literally collapse. The Charcot condition is often called a "silent" disease since a sufferer might not know there is a problem until massive damage has occurred.

Treatment for this condition, traditionally has been to apply a cast so the fractures and dislocations can heal. The foot would be immobilized for a long period of time (often a year or more). Surgery, although done in some cases is ruled out for many patients due to an increased risk of the foot not healing properly.

Some patients must wear a special brace on their foot/leg in order to be able to walk with the Charcot condition present. It's extremely important for the foot to stay as stable as possible in order to avoid future additional damage such as ulcers, infection and amputation.

A Charcot Foot (also called a Charcot Fracture) can bring devastating changes to a person's life. Day-to-day activities can be limited and the person might find themselves immobilized for long periods of time, sometimes having to use a wheelchair to get around. Often people can go back to work after treatment with limitations and/or corrective shoes/braces.

About the author

Belver Ladson has been a diabetes educator for the past ten years and has strived to help people with diabetes live long, fulfilling lives. Belver's life goal is to help others see the goodness in

life and to let them know that hope is always present. Belver can be reached at http://www.dfandiabetes.com.

POST COMMENT

Know The Symptoms of Juvenile Diabetes by:Tom Capizzi Hypoglycemia- Know diabetes to control it- by:Nilutpal Gogoi Key Tips About A Diet For Diabetes by:Annie Beal Diabeticine And Diamaxol: The FDA And Diabetes Medication by:Vivian L. Brennan Your Child Has Diabetes by:Jay Chirino Coffee Intake Linked To Lower Diabetes Risk by:Adam Akelis Diabetes Management: The Drug Company Conspiracy by:Julia Hanf Is Your Type 2 Diabetes Really Under Control? by:Dr. Tina Marcantel Heart Disease Prevention - The Diabetes-Heart Disease Connection by:Diana Benzaia Does Stress Lead to Increased Diabetes Risk? by:Jacob Gan The Hidden Side of Type 2 Diabetes by:Alice Greene Diabetic Diet Plan - Manage Diabetes with Diet by:Dr John Anne Type 1 Diabetes Causes and Symptoms - Are you at the Risk by:Dr John Anne