If you have diabetes, it is very important that you take good care of your feet, which is considered diabetic foot. Poor foot care can lead to serious problems, the consequences of which are so severe that they can lead to a foot or leg amputation.
A person with diabetes is more susceptible to foot problems because this disease can damage your nerves and reduce blood flow to your feet. The Diabetes Association has estimated that one in five people with diabetes who are cared for in hospitals are for diabetic foot problems.
By taking proper care of your feet, you can prevent more serious problems. It is important that your doctor check your feet for any problems at least once a year.
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Diabetic foot care.
Here are some diabetes foot care tips you can follow:
- Wash and dry your feet daily.
- Use mild soaps.
- Use lukewarm water.
- Keep your skin dry; Try to dry your feet very well, especially between the toes.
- After washing, use a moisturizing lotion on your feet to prevent cracking. Don’t leave lotion residue between your toes.
Examine your feet every day.
- Always check the top and bottom of your feet.
- Check for dry, cracked skin.
- Look for the presence of blisters, cuts, scratches, or other wounds.
- Check for redness, increased heat, or tenderness when touching an area of your feet.
- Check for ingrown toenails, corns, and calluses.
- If your shoes cause blisters or wounds, don’t wear them. Apply a bandage and wear another pair of shoes.
Take care of your toenails.
- Toenails need to be trimmed after bathing when soft.
- Cut the nails so they are straight and then file them.
- Avoid cutting the corners of the toes.
- Be careful during physical training.
- Walk and exercise wearing comfortable shoes.
- Don’t train if you have open wounds on your feet.
- Protect your feet with shoes and socks.
The Right Shoe Choices for People with Diabetes.
For a person suffering from diabetes, it is very important to choose the right footwear, in this way the complications that are usually suffered by the diabetic foot are reduced. Take this simple test to see if your shoes fit you:
- Stand on a sheet of paper (make sure you are standing and not sitting as the shape of the feet changes).
- Trace the outline of your foot.
- Later trace the contour of your shoe.
- Compare the shapes: is the shoe too tight? Does your foot enter the shoe correctly? The shoe must be at least 1/2 inch longer than your longest toe and as wide as your foot.
If you have diabetes, you should keep these things in mind when choosing the right shoes:
- Buy closed shoes.
- Buy shoes with leather uppers, but without seams.
- Make sure there is at least 1/2 inch of extra space at the end of your longest toe.
- The inside of the shoe should be smooth with no rough areas.
- The outsole must be made of rigid material.
- Your shoe must be at least as wide as your foot.
Tips to keep your feet safe.
Here’s what you can do to keep your feet safe when you have diabetes:
- Don’t let time pass when there is a minor problem with your foot. Follow your medical care guidelines and apply first aid properly.
- Report foot injuries and infections immediately to your doctor.
- Check the water temperature with your elbow, not your foot.
- Don’t use heating pads on your feet.
- Don’t cross your legs.
- Don’t treat corns, calluses, or other foot problems on your own. See your doctor or nurse to treat these conditions.
When to contact your doctor.
Consult your doctor if you have diabetes and any of the following problems related to diabetic foot occur:
- Athlete’s foot(cracks between the toes).
- Foot wounds.
- Ingrown toenails.
- Numbness or pain.
- Calluses.
- Redness.
- Blackening of the skin.
- Infections.
- Mallet toes or hammer toe (when the middle joints of the toes are permanently bent downward).