subject: The Importance Of Foot Care For Diabetes Patients [print this page] Diabetes is a disease that affects a large percentage of the population in America. According to the American Diabetes Association, almost 6% of all Americans suffer from the disease. Between 60 and 70 percent of these people suffer subsequent damage to their nervous systems. The areas of the body that are most affected by this are the hands and feet. Often diabetes patients can face complications with their feet and rates of amputation are vastly higher among diabetes patients. Therefore, it is critical for diabetes patients to take care of their feet and frequently see their podiatrist.
How Diabetes Affects Your Feet
When you have diabetes, the blood flow to your limbs is restricted. Because of this, wounds on your feet are slower to heal than normal. A relatively small injury can cause major problems. Because the wound is slow to heal, there is an increased risk of infection, which will move very quickly in diabetic patients. If the infection is not stopped, many times diabetic patients will have to undergo amputation procedures.
Numbness of the extremities is very common in patients with diabetes. This can be problematic when people do not know that their foot should be in pain and they continue to ignore it. Small cuts can become infected and fractures or ulcers can cause problems for the patient. That is why if you have diabetes it is important to be vigilant in taking care of your feet.
Steps For Taking Care Of Your Feet
To maintain healthy feet while suffering from diabetes, it is critical to take care of your feet every day and consistently see your podiatrist. Here are some more common tips for diabetic foot care:
*Check your feet everyday for cuts, ulcers, blisters or any other problem. If your feet have become numb, this is the only effective way to make sure your feet are healthy.
*Don't smoke. This can further decrease blood flow to the feet.
*Wash your feet every day with soap and water. This reduces the chances for infection and resulting complications.
*Try to always keep your feet warm. If they become cold, blood flow is further restricted.
*Keep your feet away from sources of extreme heat such as heating pads or fireplaces. Because of numbness, often times diabetic patients will not be able to know if their feet are getting burnt.
*Contact your podiatrist immediately if you have an injury to your foot. For diabetic patients, even minor injuries should be treated cautiously.
Patients who suffer from diabetes must be extremely cautious and thorough when it comes to taking care of their feet. Not doing so can result in severe consequences that could include foot amputation. Talk to your Olney podiatrist today to learn more about proper foot care for diabetic patients.
