Diabetes Foot Care

Diabetes Foot Care

Literature Review

Diabetes has become one of the most common diseases in the elderly. While no accurate figures are available, the data indicate a percentage, which is about 20% of the population over 65 years of age are affected by the disease in Western societies. The basic principles of diagnosis and treatment of diabetes are the same for the elderly than for younger people, but there are features and special problems associated with this disease in the elderly, that want further attention (Flood, 2009).

Recent findings confirm that people with diabetes have often a range of psychological problems. Such disturbances not only cause suffering, but also affect the treatment and outcome of the diabetes. We will talk about diabetes mellitus type- insulin (Shekelle & Vijan, 2007).

Type II diabetes can become evident at 30 to 45 years, but often it is diagnosed after 60 years. Diabetes is making "adjustments" in the life of every affected, but cope with it differently, some on their own and some with the help of family and friends, some can be successful, and some cannot adapt to the new situation effectively (Singh, 2005). The ability to adapt to the situation is enhanced through psychological counseling (Powlson & Coll, 2010).

It is known that in youth people get used to everything quickly but unfortunately, it becomes difficult in most of the older people (Edwards, 2008). For many years, these people have developed a certain style and rhythm of life, personal habits and preferences, which are already so entrenched that changing them is very difficult and sometimes impossible. Therefore, diabetes mellitus, with its own rules, makes all the routine; it is a terrible event, and can cause early death (Edwards, 2008).

Here the negative role played by features of mind with age, decreased flexibility of thinking that hinders to understand and remember new information. It is clear that the presence of diabetes implies new, very extensive information (Shekelle & Vijan, 2007). You can often hear such statements of people trained self-control: "Yes, all my life I ate what I wanted, and there was nothing" or "where I got diabetes in my life I drank tea without sugar?" This suggests that the reasons the disease was not understood and the search continue for the perpetrators that search for their own reasons (Schoenberg & Jacobs-Lawson, 2008).

The feet, being an indispensable element for gait and balance, require special attention. Hence, careful observation and essential part in the geriatric care of the elderly. Especially when the pathology of the foot is almost constant at these ages. It is essential to note that the foot disorders of the elderly is very wide, so often, usually have one or more changes in it.

The feet are subjected to dynamic forces and pressure to adapt to uneven terrain (Edwards, 2008). They must likewise adapt to the effects of congenital or acquired diseases, aging, stress imposed by activities and occupations throughout life. Do not forget the potential incompatibility between anatomy and ...