1. The Development of a Charcot Foot after Significant Weight Loss in People with Diabetes
- Author
-
Rachel Murchison, Ketan Dhatariya, and Catherine Gooday
- Subjects
Pediatrics ,medicine.medical_specialty ,business.industry ,General Medicine ,Disease ,Type 2 diabetes ,medicine.disease ,Obesity ,Peripheral neuropathy ,Weight loss ,Diabetes mellitus ,medicine ,Physical therapy ,Prediabetes ,medicine.symptom ,Weight Loss Surgery ,business - Abstract
Medication to aid weight loss and weight loss surgery are becoming more commonly available for people with diabetes. As a result of profound weight loss, diabetes may go into remission and many biochemical and physical parameters improve. However, some of the end organ damage associated with diabetes may not improve, peripheral neuropathy being an example. We present three cases in people with diabetes and preexisting peripheral neuropathy who had lost significant weight. They became more mobile and developed a Charcot foot despite their diabetes improving significantly. People who have lost significant weight should continue to monitor their feet because the risks of foot disease remain even if diabetes goes into remission. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 104(5): 522-525, 2014) Weight gain is intimately related to the likelihood of developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, 1 and subsequent weight loss contributes to diabetes remission. 2 As the prevalence of obesity increases, health-care providers are seeking strategies to either treat those who are already obese, or come up with successful strategies to prevent weight gain. Bariatric surgery has been widely advocated as part of the strategy for treating the increasing burden of obesity and type 2 diabetes, and may be used earlier in the natural history of the disease over the next few years. 3 The combination of peripheral vascular disease and distal neuropathy predisposes one to the development of foot ulcers. 4 In addition, a combination of shear stress and pressure as a result of trauma or changes in the biomechanics of the foot can result in the development of foot ulcers. 5
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF