Posted on August 7, 2007 in Latest News
Diabetes increases glucose levels in the blood. This causes two problems that can hurt and cause lot of discomfort to your feet.
Nerve damage. The nerves in your legs and feet are damaged due to the high glucose levels in your blood. Damaged nerves deaden your senses and you might not feel pain, heat, or cold in your legs and feet. This condition is known as diabetic neuropathy. Feeling no pain- this sounds very nice isn’t it, but it is actually very dangerous and harmful to the body. This is because a sore or cut on your foot may get worse and may lead to an infection because you do not know it is there.
Poor blood flow. Diabetes leads to a condition called peripheral vascular disease, wherein there is not enough blood flow to your legs and feet. This poor blood flow makes it hard for a sore or infection to heal.
How To Take Care Of Your Feet
- Wash your feet in warm water everyday. Make sure the water is lukewarm. Do not soak your feet. Dry your feet well, especially between your toes.
- Look at your feet everyday to check for cuts, sores, blisters, redness, calluses, or other problems. This checking is even more important if you have nerve damage or poor blood flow. If you cannot bend over or pull your feet up to check them, ask someone else to check your feet.
- If your skin is dry, rub lotion on your feet after you wash and dry them. Do not apply lotion between your toes.
- File corns and calluses gently with an emery board or pumice stone. This should be done after your bath or shower.
- Cut your toenails once a week or when needed. Cut toenails when they are soft after washing. Cut them in accordance to the shape of the toe. File the edges with an emery board. Do this regularly.
- Always wear slippers or shoes to protect your feet from injuries. Never walk bare footed. Walking with your feet covered minimizes the risk of your feet being cut.
- Always wear socks or stockings to avoid blisters. Do not wear socks or knee-high stockings that are too tight below your knee.
- Wear shoes that fit well. Do not wear shoes that are too tight or very loose. Tight shoes reduce the blood circulation in the feet. So make sure you wear shoes that fit well.
- Before putting your shoes on, feel the insides to make sure they have no sharp edges or objects that might injure your feet. This is a very important measure you should take every time you put on your shoes. Shake your shoes out before wearing them on. So that any kind of particles which might have entered your shoes are thrown out.
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