Why Foot Care Is Important For Diabetic Patients

Diabetes affects millions of Americans

Diabetes affects millions of Americans. Patients with diabetes have to constantly monitor the amount of sugar in their blood and pay close attention to their overall health. One important aspect of diabetic health is foot care. Diabetes damages the nervous system and can cause numbness and a lack of blood flow to your extremities. Because of this, smaller injuries and infections can last longer than normal and develop into more serious issues. Patients with diabetes have a much higher rate of amputation than other people. To avoid serious problems like this, it is extremely important for diabetic patients to take care of their feet and visit their Metairie podiatrist frequently for checkups.

Why Diabetes Affects Your Feet

Diabetes restricts the flow of blood to your extremities. Because of this, wounds on your feet take much longer to heal than normal and can sometimes develop into serious issues. Normal oil and sweat production on your feet is impaired in the feet which can lead to blisters and sores forming easily. If these become infected, your body will not be able to fight them off as easily as in a non-diabetic patient. Because of the reduced flow of blood, many times antibiotics are not able to fully reach the infected area. If an infection is not controlled, the last option before it reaches the bloodstream is to amputate the foot.

The numbness that diabetic patients experience can also lead to problems when they do not know that their foot should be experiencing pain. The pain response is your bodies way of telling you that you need to stop whatever activity is causing your pain. When this process is interrupted, you can end up doing a great deal of damage. It is important for diabetic patients to always be aware of their feet.

How To Take Care Of Diabetic Feet

To maintain healthy teeth while suffering from diabetes, you must be vigilant and consistently monitor and take care of your feet. Here are some tips for taking care of your diabetic feet:

*Check your feet. You need to examine your feet frequently for cuts, ulcers, blisters or any other problems. It is important to catch these problems early on to avoid infections and more serious problems.

*Don't smoke. Smoking decreases your blood flow. When combined with diabetes, smoking can further damage the blood flow to your feet and cause more problems.

*Wash your feet. You need to wash your feet every day with soap and water to keep them clean and free from bacteria.

*See your podiatrist. If you injure yourself, see your podiatrist as soon as possible. Even minor injuries should be treated with caution.

To learn more about diabetic foot care or to schedule an appointment, contact your Metairie podiatrist today.

by: Gen Wright

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