Diabetes and Your Feet

For those with diabetes you always hear how important it is to take care of your feet. If you don’t do that you’re at a risk of developing an infection that can lead to having your limbs cut off.

Why this occurs

1.   Diabetes reduces blood flow to your feet depriving them of oxygen and nutrients, which leads to blisters, sores and cuts that don’t heal as fast.

2.   The diabetic nerve damaged called peripheral neuropathy causes numbness in your feet and when you can’t feel cuts or blisters, you’re prone to sores and infections; when left untreated, it leads to amputation.

Compression Stockings

Compression stockings are elastic stockings that are tighter at your foot and become less constricting as they reach your knee. Their sole purpose is to put pressure on your leg muscles and push blood back to your heart. Oftentimes you’ll see patients in the hospital who can’t get out of bed wear them, to avoid developing blood clots. They’re also used for chronic venous insufficiency, varicose veins, lymphedema and post-phlebitic syndrome.

Diabetic Socks

Since diabetes raises your blood sugar level which can increase the risk of foot ulcers, the socks are made to control moisture which can reduce the risk of infection, and are made without seams or wrinkle-prone material to reduce pressure and blistering; loose tops constrict less and improve flow.

When you think of diabetic socks you probably think they look strange or a lot different from others, however they come in different styles from low-cut to mid-calf. Even though diabetic socks come in different colors, white is the choice that’s recommended because if a person has open wounds or sores, and sensation more than likely you’ll be able to notice that easier than with colored ones.

Ways to Protect Your Feet

·         Check both feet daily – Look at them carefully every day, checking between all of your toes. If you can’t physically do this yourself, ask a family member or friend to do it.

·         Wash with warm water, not hot -  Wash your feet everyday but avoid soaking too long because sores have a hard time healing. Don’t forget to dry your feet and do it gently, even between your toes.

·         Wear shoes that fit - Shoes that don’t fit properly can cause blisters that may get infected and never heal. Before you invest in a pair, check for rough seams or sharp edges that can hurt your feet. Don’t forget to break them in slowly.

·         Don’t go barefoot. – Always wear shoes or slippers along with socks. Manmade shoe materials along with plastics or leather can irritate your feet leading to sores or blisters.

·         Avoid Nerve damage – Tell your doctor if you notice any changes in your feet or different sensations, like pain, tingling, numbness or pins and needles.

·         Apply lotion – Your feet may be cracked because of high glucose levels and cracked skin means it’s easier for bacteria to get under your skin and harder for infections to heal. Use lotion on a daily basis but maintain your feet dry. Keep your toenails trimmed and filed to avoid ingrown toenails. If needed, use a pumice stone after you shower to softly file corns and calluses.

·         Exercise – Swimming, yoga, cycling and tai chi are minor impact exercises for your feet that you can enjoy.

·         Take care of your bunions, corns and hammertoes – Bunions are bumps on the knuckle of your toe, corns are spots of rough skin and hammertoes can be a result of muscle weakness caused by nerve damage. Shoes aren’t going to fit comfortably if you suffer from them, but a podiatrist can fix whichever problem ails you so make sure you take care of it before it continues making your life miserable.

·         Considered orthotics? – Shoe inserts called orthotics support your feet if you have nerve pain, damage or your muscles have become weak. If your pain or weakness reaches a point where it’s unbearable to walk, a foot brace or orthopedic shoes might help. Again, your podiatrist is the best one to make that recommendation.

·         Control your blood sugar –The higher the number the worse you’re going to be, especially if you have diabetes so you really want to make sure to keep the numbers down. With diet, exercise and medication if needed, you’ll be able to do that.

A person should never disregard taking care of their feet, after all, if it weren’t because of them, you wouldn’t be able to get around, so take good care of them and make the most of your life.