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Taking Care of Your Feet

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Written by Julia Hanf

Tuesday, 15 April 2008

by JuliaHanf

About 20% of the people diagnosed with diabetes are hospitalized because of issues concerning their feet. The foot of a diabetic can cause a number of possible critical conditions for them to be in. Blood flow problems in the legs, like atherosclerosis, can put the foot in peril for injury and infections.

The damage done to the nerves in the foot, from neuropathy, can reduce the ability to feel pain, heat, and cold. This can lead to secondary damage to the foot which if left untreated can cause infection and the breakdown of the skin.

Close monitoring of a diabetic's foot would lessen the risks of possible complications. It's best practice to notify a doctor when there are observed changes and abnormally slower healing pace for open wounds on the foot.

Check if the foot becomes dry, cracked, and starts to peel. It may present to us another issue. These are signs that there's a problem with the nerves that are responsible for the foot to produce moisture. Cracks and peels pave the way for bacteria and to get in and cause more problems. One can use petroleum based lotions or salves to add moisture to the foot to prevent cracks. Do not put lotion between the toes, though, because too much of this may lead to infection.

Untreated calluses can harden, become thick and can develop into an ulcer. When a callus is discovered and cannot be softened at home with the aid of a pumice stone, a physician needs to be alerted.

Open sores or ulcers often develop around the bottom of the big toe and at the ball of the foot. Sometimes, it's because of wearing shoes that are too tight. It also develops on the sides, top or heel of the foot. Redness is a symptom of skin breakdown, and diabetics should watch for it since ulcers can cause infections that may lead to lower limb amputations. There are cases wherein a diabetic wears a cast to lessen the pressure on the foot to avoid open sores from getting bigger or the infection from increasing.

There are ways to avoid the problems that have been reviewed above. Keep blood sugar levels under control. Loose excess weight. While being unhealthy to begin with, legs and feet have a hard time constantly carrying excess weight. It also may make it awkward to inspect the feet closely every day. Check feet every day either yourself, or have someone do it for you. Check that socks are smooth and do not bunch when you put them on. Check shoes for foreign objects, the smallest irritant can cause big problems. Do not go barefoot, you run the highest risk of stepping on something and breaking the skin when you do not wear socks, slippers, or shoes. Test water for baths with the hand first. If the feet suffer from nerve damage, you may not experience heat sensations and cause severe burns without knowing it until it is too late. Again, due to nerve damage in the feet, do not use heating pads on the feet. Dry feet well after bathing, especially between the toes. If you are a smoker, QUIT! Smoking creates all kinds of problems for blood circulation to all areas of the body. Decreased circulation to the foot can speed up nerve damage and slow healing.

A diabetic with poor senses in the foot should let a podiatrist trim toenails, trim calluses, and remove corns, to eliminate the risk of infection.

Diabetics should keenly observe their feet for any sign of irregularity to prevent hospitalization for foot related issues and even the amputation of the lower limb.

About the Author:

Julia Hanf author of the book How To Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win Through a real life crisis Julia figured out how to live diabetes free. Visit http://www.yourdiabetescure.com and learn more about your solution for diabetes.