subject: Diabetic Socks Learn About Diabetic Foot Ulcers [print this page] Diabetic Socks Learn About Diabetic Foot Ulcers
People with diabetes are quite often prone to developing diabetic foot ulcers. If left untreated the sores can become painful and infected. There are many creams and anti fungal products that prevent the spread of the sores as well as treating them.
The feet are easier to damage when the person has the health condition, and simple accidents such as standing on a small stone can cause damage to the feet. Having the condition can prevent the wound on the foot from healing normally and may lead to painful sores and infection. People with the condition can also become prone to problems with their lower legs.
One of the side effects of the illness is that when the blood has a high sugar content, it can affect nerve sensitivity and some nerves will possibly become permanently damaged, this is one of the reasons that the sores go untreated in people with the health condition as they cannot feel the pain as their nerves are not as sensitive. This means that if the feet are accidentally hurt, then the sensation does not pass to the brain to tell the person that they have been hurt.
The arteries can also become clogged as a result of having the medical condition. Fatty deposits build up on the walls of the arteries causing the blood to stop flowing properly. Having a poor blood supply prevents damaged parts of the body from healing properly.
The risks of people with the health condition having these sores can be increased if the blood sugar level is not properly kept under control. The age and length of time the person has suffered from the illness will also contribute to the level of risk of the infections developing. The risks can also be increased if the patient has high cholesterol, smokes, has high blood pressure or does not control their weight.
The rate at which sores will heal will depend on many factors, these will include how good a persons circulation is, as well as the persons overall general state of health. When given medical treatment sores will normally heal quite quickly, but if the sores go unnoticed, they can turn nasty and infection can occur. Regular checking of both feet can go a long way to helping to prevent sores from occurring.
By attending routine check ups for the health condition, doctors will usually assess the health of the feet as part of the assessment. There will be minimal chance of developing sores and infections if the condition and other health problems are kept under control. Regular washing and careful drying of the feet can help reduce the chances of any problems with the feet. Try to avoid wearing shoes with bare feet as this will prevent feet from rubbing against the shoes.
Diabetic socks are made especially to help with the circulation in the lower legs and feet. Socks made from cotton or other materials are usually made to be loose fitting, they have no tight elastic or seams at the toe areas. Anti bacterial socks are also available that help to keep the feet clean and dry.
