subject: 7 Diabetes Foot Care Tips [print this page] 7 Diabetes Foot Care Tips 7 Diabetes Foot Care Tips
If you have diabetes, pertinant information about how to manage your condition is vital to your well being.
One of the most important aspects of having diabetes is to take special care of your feet so as to prevent the development of sores or infections which may possibly lead to amputations of part or all of your feet. Speaking from experience, my father-in-law had diabetes and he failed to follow simple protocol for foot care and ended up losing both feet to amputations. Reduce your risk of infection or amputation by incorporating these 7 foot care tips...
1) Check both of your feet daily - be especially cognizant if you have low sensitivity or no feeling in your feet. Sores, cuts and grazes could go unnoticed and you could develop problems leading to amputations.
2) Always wear proper footwear - do not go around barefoot, even indoors. It is easy to walk on something inadvertently or stub your toes and cut yourself. Protect your feet with socks/stockings and shoes/slippers.
3) Be especially careful if you have developed corns or calluses from improperly fitting footwear. Always check with your doctor or podiatrist for the best way to care for them should they develop.
4) Wash your feet daily in warm, NOT HOT water. And don't soak your feet (even if you've been standing all day) because it could dry your skin and form cracks or sores.
5) Be sure to take extra care to make sure you dry your feet completely, especially between your toes. These are natural moisture traps - leaving them damp or wet could create all sorts of problems and lead to bacterial infections.
6) Be sure to exercise your legs and feet regularly. Examples of this would be even when sitting you can rotate your ankles; wiggle your toes or move your legs up and down. These all keep your blood circulation flowing and helps to minimize the risk of foot problems.
7) Get your feet professionally checked, at least once a year, for sensitivity and signs of any problems. You can usually arrange this when you have your annual check up for your AC1 levels (blood glucose levels over a 3-month period), blood pressure and cholesterol.
Take constant care of your feet. Get help from a relative or professional, doctor, diabetic nurse or podiatrist if you are not able to bend when trimming nails or checking for sores. If you have diabetes, taking these simple actions will help you reduce your risk of painful problems.
