The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Diabetologists raise concerns about foot health of pilgrims

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Sunday, Nov 28, 2010
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Diabetologists raise concerns about foot health of pilgrims

Ramya Kannan

Walking barefoot poses a huge threat to diabetics as they might not feel the wounds
Diabetic pilgrims must frequently check their feet or get someone to do so for injuries

CHENNAI: With the Sabarimala season having begun, diabetologists are gearing themselves up for some hectic consultation hours. This may sound like material for a trick quiz question, but the truth is that the connect between the Sabarimala season, and the Tamil month of Aadi with diabetic foot problems cannot be ignored.

“During and after both seasons, we get a huge group of patients with serious foot injuries that can lead to amputation and even death, in the most extreme instance,” says A. Panneerselvam, diabetologist.

During the Sabarimala season, people walk barefoot, citing religious or ritualistic compulsions, he adds. It poses a huge threat to a diabetics for whom foot health is absolutely key. The worse clinical presentations, however, are those diabetics who attempt the ‘fire-walking' ritual.

“Five to 10 years of poor blood sugar control is likely to lead to insensitive feet. The danger is that the patient does not feel the wounds and ulcers that form. Walking up the Sabarimala path, they are likely to be injured in the foot from stones and thorns. But they keep walking as they have no idea that the injury has occurred,” Dr. Panneerselvam explains. Once they are back, the feet swell up, are infected, and if neglected, can turn gangrenous.

Slow healing

C.R .Anand Moses, head of the Diabetology department, Kilpauk Medical College, adds, “Even those who have sensation in their feet are not safe, as with diabetes, wound healing is really slow. They will take a longer time to recover and the costs of treatment are high. Many productive hours are lost.”

Dr. Moses goes on to say that diabetologists make it a point to talk to their patients before they leave on these trips. “Your body is the biggest temple. We tell them that walking barefoot is not worth all the risk. But some people believe it is beyond the physical.”

The situation is the same even for diabetics who walk barefoot in temples where the stone flooring is hot during the day, walk uphill barefoot in Tirupati, and also for those who do the ‘girivalam' in Tiruvannamalai, he points out. “We cannot interfere with their faith, but it is essential to take precautions.”

Dr. Panneerselvam says a diabetic climbing barefoot must check his feet twice a day, or get someone in the team to check for injuries. If any small injury is noticed, it must be attended to immediately.

While one way to beat the heat factor impact on the feet is to wear socks, it does not work where there are sharp objects such as stones, brambles and thorns.

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