subject: What To Know About Diabetes And Your Feet [print this page] Diabetes is a disease that affects millions of people. Patients who suffer from diabetes have to monitor the amount of sugar in their blood and pay very close attention to their overall health. One of the most important aspects of diabetic health is maintaining healthy feet. Diabetes causes damage to the nervous system and decreases the amount of blood flow to your extremities. Because of this, small injuries and infections can last longer than normal and can become very serious issues quickly. Patients that have diabetes have a much higher rate of amputation than other people. To avoid these serious problems, it is important for diabetic patients to take care of their feet and visit their Frederick podiatrist often for checkups and exams.
Why Does Diabetes Affect Your Feet?
Diabetes affects the flow of blood to your extremities. Because of this, wounds on your feet take longer to heal than normal and can sometimes develop into serious problems. Regular sweat and oil production in your feet is impaired which can lead to sores and blisters forming more easily. If these become infected, your body will have a harder time fighting them off than normal. Because of the reduced blood flow, many times 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 an infection spreads through the bloodstream.
The numbness and lack of feeling that diabetic patients experience in their feet can also lead to problems when patients do not know that they should be feeling pain. The pain response is your bodies way of letting you know that you need to stop whatever action is causing the pain. When this process is interrupted, you can end up causing damage to your feet. It is important for diabetic patients to always be aware of their feet.
How To Take Care Of Diabetic Feet
To maintain healthy feet while suffering from diabetes, you need to be vigilant in constantly monitoring and taking care of your feet. Here are a few tips for taking care of your diabetic feet:
*Check your feet. Examine your feet for cuts, blisters, ulcers or any other problems. It is important to catch these problems early so they can be treated before they become serious issues.
*Wash your feet. You need to wash your feet every day with soap and water in order to keep them clean and free from bacteria.
*Don't smoke. Smoking further decreases the flow of blood in your body. When combined with diabetes, this can cause a variety of problems for you.
*Frequently visit your podiatrist. If you injure yourself, see your podiatrist as soon as possible. Even minor injuries should be treated seriously.
To learn more about diabetic foot care or to schedule an appointment, contact your Hagerstown podiatrist today.
