|
Foot Gangrene: The Common Complication of Diabetes
Almost 160 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes. And it is estimated that by the year 2025 this number will double. The onset of diabetes is insidious and often before birth; it develops so gradually that before becoming apparent it has been already well established. The mother who gains excessive weight and delivers the large for dates infant (over 9 lbs.) is doubling the child's risk for diabetes within his/ her lifetime. The 'junk' diets high on processed carbohydrates and sweeteners result in fat, out-of-shape and inactive children. This is fertile ground for the rapid and increasing growth of our population of adult onset diabetic teenagers and adults. In short, for the adult onset diabetes, the pathophysiology is based on producing much more insulin than normal - but not enough to keep the blood sugar under control. The result is: high blood sugars. And this high sugar is able to scar and destroy the blood vessels and the organs throughout the body.
Because many individuals do not know that they are pre-diabetic or diabetic, it is important for both the man and woman to insist that their treating physician measure their fasting insulin. Because even if you think "everything is OK", when you find out you are "sicker than you think” you may be inclined to change your diet, exercise or medication program. Although for diabetes (and all of us) the goal is still excellent glucose control, much more important is strict insulin control. With insulin levels, the lower the better. A normal fasting insulin level is less than 10 mIU/ml. Howeve, below 5 mIU/ml is good, but 2 mIU/ml or 3 mIU/ml would be far better. Strong diabetic control, namely, stable blood sugars and tight low insulin, is most important in avoiding the terrible complications and end-stage processes of diabetes such as
In pre-diabetes syndrome, a person loses his ability to manage insulin effectively. If not controlled properly, the syndrome can lead to: You might have pre-diabetes syndrome if you experience such symptoms as:
Some clinics use a fasting blood sugar of 90 mg/dL or higher (> 5.0 mmol/L) as a biomarker of coronary heart disease risk. (A fasting blood sugar level test is the simplest and least expensive).
Therefore, the first line of treatment is to keep the blood sugars stable and low. This is best achieved by restricting
The diabetic patients' responsibilities are:
In fact, nine out of ten cases of type 2 diabetes could be prevented - if people
The medical therapy, however, is erroneously only concerned with the blood sugar. That is why most doctors prescribe Glynase(R), Micronase(R), Glucophage(R) and rarely Rezulin(R)/ Avandia(R) or Actos(R). The drugs will hopefully prevent a diabetic crisis with blood sugars going too high or too low. But the underlying disease process - the 'overflowing' of the body with glucose stores - is being ignored by the generations of treating physicians. By the time the individual develops foot ulcers, his or her dire calls for medical help may be too late. Ulcers develop when there is insufficient circulation. About 80 percent of foot ulcers occur on the bottom of insensate feet, or feet without feeling. They appear as shallow holes or craters which can vary in color, size and depth; they don't heal and may be extremely painful and in some cases give off an unpleasant smell. The medical term is gangrene. Expensive and time-consuming debridements, medications, antibiotics, therapy and skin grafts cannot correct the underlying process. Here’s a typical situation:
This degenerative disease can damage many of the body systems leading to such serious medical complications as
Complications of diabetes - the third leading cause of death in the United States - are associated with one-third of the heart attacks and two-thirds of the strokes. Diabetics more often have cataracts, or clouding of the lens of the eye. In addition, they may develop glaucoma, or an increased pressure within the eye. Finally, if the blood supply to the nerve layer of the eye (retina) is affected, the abnormal blood vessels on the surface of the retina may leak causing bleeding in the eye leading to blindness. Nowadays, the main goal for diabetics is to avoid or minimize chronic diabetic complications, usually of toes and feet. In fact, severe damage to the feet is one of the greatest threats posed by diabetes. As many as 50 percent of people with diabetes have a narrowing of the arteries supplying blood to the legs - a condition called peripheral vascular disease (PVD), a gradual buildup of fatty deposits on the walls of the circulatory system. As deposits, called atherosclerotic plaque, begin to clog the small vessels near the periphery of the system, tissues in the legs and feet can become starved for blood.
If the blood vessels to a portion of the legs or, more commonly, part of the feet become totally blocked, then the part of the body supplied by those blood vessels dies and gangrene occurs. In the United States, approximately 25 percent of people with diabetes - about five million - will develop foot problems and 6 to 10 percent - 300.000 - 500.000 - will undergo a foot or leg amputation. A "bad leg" is a common, if not the most common, cause of hospital admissions for diabetic patients over age 40. Diabetics spend more time in the hospital for foot complications than for all other aspects of their disease combined.
So called diabetic foot is one specific example of gangrene that can be seen in long-standing complicated diabetes. Common in diabetics foot gangrene is typically caused by a combination of
Currently, the best of all possible standard medical diabetic foot treatments is revascularization (restoration) of the affected organ, which can reverse some of the effects of necrosis (tissue loss) and allow healing of the tissues. Treatment other than revascularization, depending on the extent of tissue loss and location - digits, foot or hand - runs the gamut from
The picture above is of a diabetic foot with a recent amputation of a great toe and yet increasing loss of circulation (the bluish area) with subsequent progression of gangrene and tissue loss to come. An increasing loss of circulation, called ischemia, is due to an inadequate flow or lack of blood flow to the tissues and is commonly caused by constriction or blockage of the blood vessels in the extremities. COMMENT: As you can see, amputation of the big toe did little to restore circulation in the foot, hence the progression of gangrene due to an inadequate blood flow - ischemia still present after surgery. If necrosis keeps spreading, leading to serious complications, including sepsis (blood poisoning), the entire foot, or even leg - below or above the knee - would need to be amputated. Disturbingly, research shows that diabetics who have had one lower limb amputated have a 50 percent mortality rate in the five years following the amputation. As well, they have 50 percent risk of developing a serious lesion in the second limb within two years, often leaving them immobile and putting them at risk of further complications from their diabetes.
When he was first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, he thought, "Oh, I feel fine, there's nothing the matter with me." In late August [2005], he noticed a small "bruise" on his left foot but didn't think much of it. When the "bruise" began to spread, he soaked his foot in hot water, but didn't notice that he had scalded his foot badly, making matters worse. Gangrene set in and he lost a couple of toes. Despite his best efforts, the problem only grew. Doctors said the only treatment was an amputation. He was scared. He certainly didn’t look forward to losing part of his leg. Unfortunately, while the surgery went well, another complication of diabetes hit Doug. He suffered a fatal heart attack days after the operation. Remember, you're not invincible. Foot ulcer followed by amputation can get you. It can get anybody who has diabetes.
Here's an illustrated timeline compiled by a devasted son telling the tragic story of the last days of his diabetic elderly mother. You come to your own conclusion. July 28th, she left hospital to enter a nursing home.
October 5th, she was admitted by the alternative doctor to another hospital.
October 20th, she passed away.
One of the natural, non-amputation methods to effectively treat dry foot gangrene is the nutritional revasculatization. Its first and foremost goal is to improve and - over a period of time - restore the impaired circulation in the areas wounded by vascular ischemia (decreased blood flow) - the most common cause of foot ulcers and/or gangrene. The process of natural revascularization can be triggered with an application of nutritional - natural and essential - factors that - when presented in specific ratios and amounts - are able to correct longer standing deficiencies and imbalances which are known to contribute to the circulatory problems. As opposed to standard medical methods of treating vascular ischemia, it helps to reduce the impact of factors that created the buildup of atherosclerotic plaque in the arteries. The nutritional revascularization - natural restoration of blood flow - can be done with the help of Gangrene Clearing Formula - a targeted, orthomolecular formulation providing a comprehensive support for the entire circulatory system. Simply put, Gangrene Clear-G Formula works to improve circulation. And improved circulation allows the body to "heal itself." What could be better than a nutritional supplement fixing the impaired circulation that develops in a diseased body? In many individuals, Gangrene Clear-G Formula has also been able to:
In our clinical experience, Gangrene Clear-G Formula does help to stop and - over a period of time - reverse the progression of gangrene in a way of
This all-natural combination of 105 nutrients and phytonutrients (plant nutrients) not only keeps your blood flow to the affected limbs in check (as some drugs do), but actually helps your body rebuild the organs and systems that control blood circulation - without side effects (as drugs do not do). No wonder, our proprietary Clear-G Formula can produce results that doctors have rarely seen before, even with hard-core prescription drugs. And, unlike pharmaceutical drugs, it is very body-friendly. Once again, without improving the flow of blood to the affected limbs - amputation is a futile exercise, although it can be life saving at times.
Dear Andrew: I contacted you last year in early December about my father's condition. He had undergone 2 different surgeries on his right foot: one to remove the 2 outside toes, and then a year later the 3 middle toes. At that time, they also did a bypass and thought my father would be OK. He had tried IV chelation a few years ago, and I think that helped him some. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to continue the treatments. Early December, when gangrene in his right foot set in, my father was getting ready to die. The only option he was given by the doctors was below the knee amputation without any guarantee of success. He turned that down. The surgeon had also told my father that basically all his arteries below his knee were “just hanging there like strings.” I had read enough even then to know that without treating the underlying problem, at best everything being done was no more than putting a band-aid on a huge problem. Fortunately, as I was looking for information on managing the pain for gangrene, I ran across your website. Today, he is still walking OK and there is no smell (only 2 months after the gangrene began to set in). He is relatively pain free and hopeful that he has some time left (he says he is too ornery to die). When I first spoke with you, you said there was perhaps a 50/50 chance that your Formula would help my father, so he agreed to try it. As far as I am concerned, if not for your product, he may not have made his 80th birthday earlier this month, or if he had, I don’t think he would have been as relatively pain free and in a good condition as he was. When I ask him, he comments that he is sleeping well at night, without foot pain waking him up. I know when his toes were gangrenous and pain at night was a big problem for him. My sister, who does not see him as frequently as I do, also commented that his color was looking better than it has in a long time. Thank you for your product. I believe that it is responsible for giving my father some additional time with good quality. I have attached a picture of his foot from the bottom. While I am certainly no expert, it seems to me that the foot is healing. I was even able to remove a large section of dead skin off of the top of the foot this morning and underneath the skin seemed pink and healthy. I am so thankful for this Formula and plan to share the results my father has had with the podiatrist he had been working with. He works with many diabetic patients and is open to alternative therapies. He might find this interesting. Thank you again. I'll let you know how things go in the upcoming months. Karen Gibson Hermitage, TN Wednesday, May 21, 2008
I just wanted to let you know that my dad's foot now appears to be TOTALLY healed. The 'scab' came off about a week or so ago and the tissue is healthier than it has looked in years. Here are the pictures of his foot as it is now. I took my father to see his podiatrist last week and he was very happy to see the condition of my father's foot. I brought him an empty jar of your Formula. This doctor works with a lot of diabetic patients, perhaps he can steer others your way if they develop gangrene.
Karen P.S. Finding your formula was a specific answer to a specific prayer...
Dear Andrew, On behalf of my family and myself, we would like to express our gratitude to your company for developing the Gangrene Clearing Formula. My father is a diabetic and due to poor circulation to his legs, he began to develop sores on his legs and foot. The sores on his foot eventually turned black as he developed dry gangrene. After repeated visits to a podiatrist and a vascular specialist, the dry gangrene began to spread and he had to be admitted into the hospital. Both doctors suggested that my father's left leg be amputated from the knee down. I immediately researched the internet to educate myself on what the doctors were stating, to confirm their recommendation. Fortunately, I found the website for Full of Health Inc. and decided to start the treatment and postpone the surgery. After three weeks, the ulcers on his legs completely healed and the black scabs on his toes began to fall off and revealed healthy new skin. The nurse that has been cleaning my father's wounds daily has expressed complete amazement and requested Full of Health's phone number to recommend it some of the patients she treats. The progress that my father has experienced after three weeks of taking the Gangrene Clearing Formula has saved his leg, lifted his attitude and made him feel more energetic. Thank you again for helping families that are faced with loved ones that are only given the option of amputation. And thank you for all your insight and information you provide to my father and I. Best regards, Rafael E. Cervantes Miami, FL
Dear ReverseGangrene.com, First, let me thank you for the unique way you created your web site. It was very easy to find and your words were sincerely understood. I’m living proof that gangrene can be reversed. In April 2005, I was in a hospital bed, and about an hour away from a scheduled amputation of the fifth toe of my right foot. Right from the hospital bed I called your toll- free number and asked you if it was possible to reverse gangrene even though I was told earlier that morning that bones in my toe were also infected, and the answer was “yes.” I declined the amputation, and two days after taking Gangrene Clearing Formula, the gangrene portion of my toe began to fuse with the non-gangrene area. The rest is history. My toe is healed and the infection is completely gone. No one can believe it. Many are calling it a miracle, especially since the doctors at one of the most well known university medical centers told me that an amputation was the only remedy. Day after day as I changed the dressing on my toe, I was amazed to observe steadily growing white healthy tissue. Eventually the gangrene of the affected part came off and the remaining part of the toe healed nicely. I’m happy to have saved most of my toe, in light of the fact that the surgeons wanted to amputate it all the way up to the metatarsal bone in my foot. I must admit that it took courage and close to five months for a complete healing, but it was well worth it. The most important thing here is that the gangrene was REVERSED! Your Formula specifically targeted the problem and is very potent. It really works!!!!! I might add that you were always available to me for personal support. Also, my sugar is now under control without insulin. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Denis Wedge Pennsylvania, USA
As opposed to standard medical procedures, the nutritional method of controlling foot or leg gangrene is something you can do on your own and get results - if you have courage, good will and persistence, and are not afraid to take your health into your own hands. At Full of Health, we are sure that the nutritional approach to foot gangrene - so simple that, at first, its simplicity makes you difficult to believe - will do as much for you as it has done for our clients and customers. If other people have benefited from our proprietary Gangrene Clear-G Formula, you, or someone you know or hold dear, can benefit as well.
Has Gangrene Clearing Formula made a difference in your health, or in the health of someone you know or hold dear? Please take a moment to share your story with us. And if you like, we will share it with others. Should you have any comments or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact us by:
Our Canadian office hours are 10:00 am to 3:00 pm EST, Monday through Friday (Weekends & Holidays Excluded)
|