Diabetes is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia, due to pancreatic beta cell failure or the body’s resistance to insulin (the hormone that regulates blood sugar).
Nails on the hands and feet are made from keratin and grow continuously throughout life. The average growth rate of fingernails is 3 mm and toenails is 1 mm per month. The rate of nail growth can be affected by a number of other factors including age, medications, local and systemic diseases. Uncontrolled diabetes causes many complications on organs, including the heart, nerves, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, skin, hair, nails…
Small blood vessel complications cause lack of blood and oxygen supply to the nail, leading to changes in the shape, contour and color of the nail, onychomycosis, paronychia, ingrown nails… Nail deformities cause Patients have a high chance of getting infections and foot ulcers. Some other causes that change nail shape and increase the risk of nail diseases include using public bathrooms, heavy manual labor, and exposure to soil, organic waste, and dirty water.
If you often have damaged and deformed nails, you are at high risk of tissue damage and foot infections. Nail deformity and nail damage can be signs of diabetic vascular complications. If this condition is not treated promptly and properly cared for, there is a possibility of severe infection and necrosis leading to leg amputation.
Diabetic foot complications are also very common. The feet are responsible for supporting the body, bearing pressure, and are susceptible to rubbing and injury. Meanwhile, diabetic feet are susceptible to infection due to related factors such as high blood sugar, small and large blood vessel complications leading to lack of blood flow to the feet, deformation, and loss of sensation due to neurological complications. Menstruation… If people with diabetes have problems with their nails or feet, the care process is often lengthy, healing time is long, and treatment costs are expensive.
Patients with severe complications lead to leg amputation, seriously affecting their activities and quality of life later on. The death rate of diabetics 5 years after leg amputation is about 40.4-70%.
When damage or abnormalities appear in your toenails, you should not buy self-treatment or apply leaves. Do not use sharp objects to scrape, remove nail corners, or adjust nail shape because it can cause damage and create conditions for bacteria to penetrate and cause infection.
People with diabetes should go to an Endocrinologist – Diabetic for examination and early treatment of nail deformities and damage. Depending on the case, the treating doctor can cut nails, grind nails, reduce hyperkeratosis, treat ingrown nails, treat wounds, control blood sugar… using specialized techniques.
To prevent nail deformity and damage, people with diabetes need to control their blood sugar well; Eat a healthy, fiber-rich diet; low in starch, sugar, and saturated fat. Increase movement and exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.
Observe your feet to detect abnormalities, clean your feet, dry your feet, and soften your feet with moisturizers for sensitive skin or skin ointments. Every person with diabetes should be screened for diabetic foot complications at least twice a year to detect abnormalities and treat complications early.