Diabetes and Foot Care
Many people with diabetes have what is referred to as impaired nerve and circulatory functions. As a result, this can lead to a loss of sensation in the extremities, often the feet. When this happens, you may not feel blister, cut, or any type of sore on your foot. When you have poor circulation, it means that your blood flow to the foot is reduced, which then impacts on the resistance to infection, and leads to the loss of a toe, or even possibly worse, a whole foot or entire leg. Half of all foot ulcer, and amputations can be avoided through care of the feet every day. Diabetics should develop a daily routine of foot care, checking for blisters, and paying special attention to in between the toes. Wash and dry your feet, and then put some moisturizer on them. This helps to keep your feet from cracking. Be careful though to not put creams between the toes, as this can cause a fungal infection. Care of your toenails should be cut straight across, but not terribly short. Cutting toenails too short can easily lead to an ingrown toenail. File down any edges to prevent snagging. Your socks should be clean , dry, and changed frequently daily, and not too tight either. Socks that are too tight around the anklecan restrict your circulation, and this needs to be prevented. Before putting on your shoes, you should check inside and make sure there are no obstacles inside that will harm your feet. And above all, never walk barefoot outdoors. This is dangerous to any person with high sugar levels, and can easily cause infections. In fact, this is one of the number one ways to get infections in the first place! A podiatrist check-up is also a good idea. They can tell you how to manage your feet with your diabetes, and recommend safe products to you.
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