Diabetic Foot Care
Giving daily attention to the condition of our feet is important for all of us; however, it is critically important if you have diabetes.
Individuals with diabetes typically will develop peripheral neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease. This can be avoided with good glucose control and lifestyle changes to improve your overall health. The poor blood sugar control leads to nerve damage over a period of time.
Frequently, individuals with diabetes do not take their disease seriously until the long term effects of uncontrolled glucose levels start to occur. Initial symptoms may be tingling, burning, numbness and pain in the lower extremities.
These symptoms start in the toes and progress to involve the entire foot, lower leg and eventually the hands.
The decrease in sensation to touch and injury of the feet can lead to severe infections requiring surgery and possibly amputation. So it should be clear the importance of proper glucose control followed by proper foot care to catch potentially serious problems early.
Maintaining a daily foot care regimen will be the best prevention method you can possibly do.
What this comes down to is understanding that taking extra precautions is extremely important for your diabetic foot care health.
Keeping your feet in tip top condition is a matter of checking your feet more often. Each day you want to check your feet for cuts, blisters and any abnormal looking redness. If you have trouble bending your feet up, use a small mirror to see the bottom of your feet properly. Any time you notice anything out of the ordinary be sure to set up a doctor’s appointment right away.
As a diabetic your foot nerve endings might be damaged, this is why it is recommended that you always use warm water to soak your feet and not hot. Wash your feet gently with a mild soap, baby soap is perfect to use. Pat your feet dry, do not rub or cause any excessive abrasions.
Using a good quality natural foot care lotion will help your skin stay soft, just don’t put the lotion in between your toes as this might encourage a fungal infection.
Wear a clean pair of socks each day and many doctors now recommend using diabetic socks. These are great especially if your feet tend to get cold during the night. Make sure your socks are not too tight so they don’t restrict your circulation.
Before you put your shoes on in the morning always check them inside to make sure that they are dry and that there are no stones inside. Preventing any type of sore or cut is crucial to your foot care health. When you are at home always wear slippers around the house and don’t walk barefoot. Again prevention is your aim here.
The diabetic food care routine described here is easy to follow and will effortlessly become a habit in a short amount of time. Along with your new routine just properly managing your diabetes with help keep you healthy. Make sure your sugar levels are correct and always take the time to get regular checkups with your doctor or health care practitioner.