Stay healthy by developing a daily “foot care for diabetics” routine
Why is foot care important for diabetics? That is an important question for anyone diagnosed with diabetes. The disease can cause serious changes to the body that often affects the feet and toes, so good foot care for diabetics should be practiced to avoid diabetes foot problems.
Some of the adverse effects of diabetes include: changes in the skin, nerve damage (neuropathy), the hardening and narrowing of blood vessels, and changes in the shape and size of both the feet and toes. These changes can cause permanent damage that can result in serious consequences.
Diabetes Foot Problems
Once you understand the problems that diabetes can cause to the feet, you will want to know more about foot care for diabetics. Some diabetes foot problems include the following:
- The Skin – Diabetes can adversely affect the skin of the feet, causing it to become dry, and dry skin can begin to peel and crack. With proper treatment, dry skin can be reversed so that it is soft again. The caveat is that if the skin becomes too moist it can cause infections, so there has to be a healthy balance of moisture in the skin.
Why is foot care important for diabetics? Without proper foot care, diabetics can develop eruptive xanthomatosis, which is a hard, yellow bump with a red ring. Other skin problems are diabetic dermopathy (brown patches on the skin), and digital sclerosis, which is a thickening of the skin on the hands and feet.
Diabetics often have problems with calluses on their feet also. If calluses are not properly treated, they can cause ulcers of the foot. Over the counter medications are not always effective in treating foot ulcers in diabetics, so it is important that your doctor examine your feet and prescribe the right type of treatment.
- Nerve Damage – Nerve damage can cause you to lose feeling in your feet, and affect your sense of feeling hot and cold. Diabetics with nerve damage may have sensations of burning, tingling, stinging pain, or feeling no pain at all.
- Blood Flow – Diabetes can raise the risk of developing fatty deposits in blood vessel walls, and result in a narrowing of the blood vessels. This problem will exacerbate the flow of blood in the circulatory system, making it more difficult to fight infection and heal wounds. Diabetes foot problems can become a serious issue when the body cannot effectively fight infection and heal. Good care, such as monitoring and controlling blood sugar levels, eating nutritious meals, getting enough rest, and proper foot care for diabetics is important to help ward off these problems.
- Changes in the Feet – Diabetes foot problems also include changes in the size and shape of the feet. Your shoe size may change and new shoes that fit well will be required to avoid long-term injuries. The proper foot care for diabetics should be practiced to aid in keeping your feet healthy.
How to Properly Care for Your Feet
Good care includes thoroughly washing and drying your feet daily, trimming toenails, caring for corns and calluses, applying a good moisturizer, and protecting your feet from excessive heat or cold. It is a good idea to keep your feet elevated when sitting, and wear shoes that fit well.
Why is foot care important for diabetics? Without proper foot care, diabetes foot problems can worsen and become acute. To remain on the safe side, inspect your feet daily for any changes, and have your doctor examine your feet regularly and recommend treatments that you may need to keep your feet healthy. To learn more about staying on top of your diabetes and caring for your feet properly, visit www.BetterHealthkare.com
