subject: How Diabetes Affects The Feet [print this page] Diabetes affects millions of peopleDiabetes affects millions of people. Diabetic patients constantly have to monitor the level of sugar in their blood and always need to pay attention to their overall health. One of the most important aspects of diabetic health is to make sure to take care of your feet and to keep them healthy. Diabetes causes damage to the nervous system and decreases the flow of blood to the extremities. Because of this, small injuries that normally would not cause problems will last longer than normal and can turn into serious problems quickly. Diabetic patients have a much higher rate of amputation than other people. To avoid serious issues like these, it is very important for diabetic patients to take close care of their feet and to visit their Oak Brook podiatrist frequently for checkups.
How Can Diabetes Affect Your Feet?
Diabetes directly affects the flow of blood to your extremities. Cuts and wounds will take longer than normal to heal because of this and sometimes they can develop into serious problems. Regular sweat and oil production is impaired on your feet so blisters and sores can form more easily. If these become infected, your body will have a harder time than normal in fighting off the infection. Because of the reduced flow of blood to your feet, sometimes antibiotics will not be able to reach the infected areas as easily. If an infection cannot be controlled, the final option your podiatrist has is to amputate the foot before the infection spreads up your leg.
The numbness and lack of sensation that diabetes patients often experience in their feet also can lead to problems when patients do not know that they should be feeling pain. Your body's pain response is the way that your body lets you know to stop whatever activity that is causing you pain. When this process is interrupted, you can end up causing damage to your feet. For this reason, it is very important for diabetic patients to always ben aware of what is happening to their feet.
How To Take Care Of Diabetic Feet
To keep your feet healthy while you are suffering from diabetes, you need to remain vigilant in frequently monitoring your feet. Here are some tips for diabetic foot care:
*Check your feet. Check your feet frequently for blisters, cuts, ulcers or any other problems. It is important for you to catch these early on before they develop into more serious problems.
*Wash your feet. Keep your feet clean and free from bacteria by cleaning them with soap and water at least once a day.
*Don't smoke. Smoking further damages the flow of blood to your extremities.
*Visit your podiatrist. If you injure yourself, you need to seek treatment as soon as you can. Even minor injuries should be treated seriously.
To learn more about diabetic foot care or to schedule an appointment, contact your dentist from Oak Brook today.
