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Vitamin deficiency tied to diabetic foot ulcers
Foot ulcers are a major complication of unmanaged blood sugar and occur when your skin begins to break down, exposing the layers underneath.
That’s why to avoid them, doctors recommend proper management of blood sugar, weight loss, well-fitting footwear and special attention to hygiene.
Yet, what they won’t tell you could be just as important…
That’s because according to researchers that followed patients hospitalized with type 2 diabetes — there’s one important factor behind those foot ulcers they’ve been missing…
Vitamin D and foot ulcers
After delving into the data of 339 diabetic patients — both with and without foot ulcers — researchers discovered that low vitamin D levels were significantly associated with a higher prevalence of foot ulcers in older patients with diabetes.
Overall, they found that among those with a diabetic foot ulcer, 13 percent had insufficient levels of the vitamin and a frightening 85 percent were considered vitamin D deficient.
Just two percent had sufficient vitamin D levels. And, even though those in the group without foot ulcers also had varying levels of vitamin D, including deficiencies as well, the researchers say the difference was significant in the group with foot ulcers.
To top it off, the team also found that the severity of the foot ulcers was worse in those with lower vitamin D levels.
Conversely, people with the lowest grade diabetic foot ulcer (not so bad), had on average more than twice the serum level of vitamin D as those with the most severe foot ulcers.
Raising vitamin D levels safely
Sadly, this level of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency is not surprising.
The average age of participants in this study was 67 — and seniors are among those at highest risk for a vitamin D deficiency. With age, the body does not produce vitamin D from sunlight exposure as efficiently as it does in younger people. And relying on food sources (beef liver, egg yolks and cheese) of the vitamin alone can rarely correct a deficiency.
The growing problem has been linked to an increase in autoimmune disease in those over 50, dementia and depression. And when it comes to diabetes and vitamin D, specifically, there’s always been a strong connection.
So if you’re living with diabetes, it’s time to get your vitamin D checked and stay on top of it.
Nowadays, physicians can prescribe high-dose vitamin D to help correct a deficiency.
Supplements are another option — available in servings of 1000 to 5000 IU daily. Never take more than is directed either by your physician or the directions on the supplement bottle.
You’ll want to make sure your supplement contains vitamin D3, which is twice as effective as vitamin D2 at raising your vitamin D levels.
That doesn’t mean D3 doubles the amount you get. It means that form is more bioavailable because it’s closest to what would naturally be produced if your body worked sufficiently enough when exposed to sunlight.
Editor’s note: There are perfectly safe and natural ways to decrease your risk of blood clots including the 25-cent vitamin, the nutrient that acts as a natural blood thinner and the powerful herb that helps clear plaque. To discover these and other secrets of long-lived hearts, click here for Hushed Up Natural Heart Cures and Common Misconceptions of Popular Heart Treatments!
Sources:
Low Vitamin D Links With Increased Diabetic Foot Ulcers – Medscape
Correlation between serum 25-OH-vitamin DLevel and diabetic foot ulcer in elderly diabetic patients — Research Square