subject: How Diabetes Affects Your Feet [print this page] Diabetes is a disease that affects millions of people. Diabetic patients have to monitor the level of sugar in their blood and pay very close attention to their overall health. One of the most important aspects of diabetic health is making sure to maintain healthy feet. Diabetes causes damage to the nervous system and decreases the flow of blood to your extremities. Because of this, small injuries that normally would not cause any problems can last longer than normal and turn into serious issues quickly. Patients with diabetes have a much higher rate of amputation than those that do not. To avoid serious problems like these, it is extremely important for diabetic patients to take close care of their feet and visit their Edison podiatrist often for checkups.
How Does Diabetes Affect Your Foot?
Diabetes affects the flow of blood to your extremities. Wounds on your feet take longer than normal to heal because of this. Sometimes they can develop into serious problems. Regular sweat and oil production is impaired in your feet so sores and blisters can form on your feet more easily. If these become infected, your body will have a harder time fighting off the infection than normal. Because of the reduced blood flow, sometimes antibiotics will not be able to reach the infected area as effectively. If an infection cannot be controlled, the last option is to amputate the foot before the infection spreads throughout the bloodstream.
The numbness and lack of sensation that diabetes patients experience in their feet can also lead to issues 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 that you need to stop whatever activity is causing you pain. When this process is interrupted, you can end up causing extensive damage to your feet. For this reason, it is important for diabetic patients to always be aware of their feet.
How To Take Care Of Diabetic Feet
To keep your feet healthy while suffering from diabetes, you need to be vigilant in constantly monitoring and keeping track of your feet. Here are several tips for taking care of diabetic feet:
*Check your feet. Frequently examine your feet for cuts, blisters, ulcers or any other problem. It is important to catch these problems early before they become serious issues.
*Wash your feet. Keep your feet clean and free from bacteria by washing them with soap and water at least once per day.
*Don't smoke. Smoking further decreases the flow of blood in your body. When combined with diabetes, this can cause you a variety of different problems.
*Visit your podiatrist. If you injure yourself, you need to see your podiatrist 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 Edison podiatrist today.
