Burn prevention and diabetic neuropathy

              Injury Prevention
Facts & Tips
Rev. January 2012
Injury Prevention Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health, 1000 NE 10th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73117 http://ips.health.ok.gov
Burn Prevention and Diabetic Neuropathy
• Diabetic neuropathy is a nerve disorder caused by diabetes.
• Approximately 60% of people with diabetes suffer from some form of neuropathy.
• Peripheral neuropathy is the most common type of neuropathy. It damages the nerves of the limbs, especially the feet.
• Common symptoms of this kind of neuropathy are:
- Numbness or insensitivity to pain or temperature;
- Tingling, burning, or prickling;
- Sharp pains or cramps;
- Extreme sensitivity to touch, even light touch;
- Loss of balance and coordination.
• Diabetic neuropathy may decrease sensitivity to pain and temperature, increasing the risk of burn injuries.
• Most burn injuries, where diabetic neuropathy was a contributing factor, were due to:
- Warming feet near a heating device or fireplace, or on a heating pad/blanket;
- Soaking or putting feet into water that was too hot.
• Some patients left their feet in hot water or near heat sources for several hours because they could not feel the burn occurring.
• Prevention and early detection is vital to the treatment of peripheral neuropathy and subsequent complications.
• Because of the loss of sensation caused by neuropathy, burns or injuries to the feet may go unnoticed and may become ulcerated.
• While the burned area of the body may be small, complications can arise and lead to subsequent amputation.
Prevention
• Carefully examine your feet and toes daily for any burns, sores, bruises, or infections.
• Set your home water heater’s temperature to no higher than 120°F.
• Test the water temperature with your elbow/forearm before stepping in a bath.
• Wash your feet daily, using warm (not hot) water and a mild soap. Dry your feet carefully with a soft towel, especially between the toes.
• Avoid using heating pads or hot water bottles. Wear socks if your feet are cold or ask your physician about other methods to improve circulation.
• To avoid friction burns, wear shoes that fit your feet well and allow your toes to move. Break in new shoes gradually, wearing them for only an hour at a time at first. Wear thick, soft socks and avoid slippery stockings, mended stockings, or stockings with seams.
• Avoid walking barefoot, especially on hot sand or hot pavement.
• Ask your physician to check your feet at every visit, and call your physician if you notice that a burn or sore is not healing well.
Internet Resources
• http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/neuropathies/
• http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/neuropathy
Diabetic burn patients have longer hospitalizations and more infections, complications, and procedures, than non-diabetic burn patients.
Many injuries happen in predictable, preventable ways.
Regularly examine feet for burns, sores, bruises, and infections. Be mindful of water and surface temperatures to prevent burns.
Live Injury-Free!