subject: The Importance Of Foot Care For Diabetic Patients [print this page] Diabetes is a disease that affects millionsDiabetes is a disease that affects millions. People who have the disease have to constantly monitor the amount of sugar in their blood and pay close attention to their overall health. One important aspect of health for diabetics is foot care. Diabetes damages the nervous system and cause numbness and a lack of blood flow to the extremities. Because of this, small injuries and infections can linger and develop into greater problems. People who suffer from diabetes have a much greater chance to have their feet amputated than other people. To avoid problems like this, it is greatly important for patients to take care of their feet and visit their podiatrist for frequent checkups.
Why Diabetes Affects The Feet
Diabetes restricts the flow of blood to the extremities. Because of this, wounds on your feet are much slower to heal than normal and can develop into serious issues. Normal sweat and oil production is impaired in the feet which can lead to blisters and sores forming easily. If these become infected, your body will not be able to fight off the infection as well as a non-diabetic patient. Because of the reduced flow of blood, many times antibiotics are not able to reach the infected area. If the infection is not controlled, the last option before it reaches the bloodstream is amputation.
The numbness that diabetic patients experience in their feet also can lead to problems when the person does not know that their foot should be feeling pain. The pain response is the bodies system of letting you know that you should stop whatever activity is causing pain. When this process is interrupted, you can do a great deal of damage because you do not know that you should be in pain. It is important for diabetics to always be aware of their feet and if they are in a bad situation.
How To Take Care Of Diabetic Feet
To maintain healthy feet while suffering from diabetes, you must be vigilant and consistently take care of your feet. Here are some basic tips for taking care of your feet with diabetes:
*Don't smoke. Smoking decreases your blood flow. When combined with diabetes, smoking can further damage the amount of blood flowing to your feet and cause problems.
*Check your feet. You need to check frequently for cuts, ulcers, blisters or any other problems. It is important to catch these problems early on before they develop into serious problems.
*Wash your feet. You need to wash your feet every day with soap and water to keep them clean and free from bacteria. This reduces the chances for infection and resulting complications.
*See your podiatrist if you injure yourself. If you injure your foot, it is very important that you see your podiatrist as soon as possible. For diabetic patients, even minor injuries should be treated with caution.
To learn more about diabetic foot care, contact your Howell podiatrist today.
