Diabetic Foot Ulcer and Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy
摘要
Diabetes, a chronic inflammatory disease and a constituent of metabolic disorder has multiple complications including retinopathy, nephropathy, angiopathy, gastroparesis, diabetic foot ulcers, atherosclerosis, increased propensity to infections, hypogonadism, psychological issues, and cardiac autonomic neuropathy. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are a debilitating socioeconomic clinical issue resulting in increased amputation rate, morbidity, and mortality. Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN), a chronic condition, occurs in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. CAN damages the nerves controlling heart and blood vessels leading to abnormal heart rate and blood circulation. Studies have supported the notion that CAN increases the incidence of DFU and patients with CAN and DFU have increased mortality. Both DFU and CAN are associated with diabetes and patients with DFUs have a higher prevalence of CAN. However, the literature discussing the association between DFUs and CAN and how each other affects the outcome is scarce. This chapter discusses various aspects of DFU and CAN, the importance of screening in the presence of CAN or diabetes to prevent DFU development, followed by the strategies to manage when they coexist.