When you live with diabetes, looking after your feet extends beyond proper hygiene and the occasional pedicure. You must take precautions, like kee...
When you live with diabetes, looking after your feet extends beyond proper hygiene and the occasional pedicure. You must take precautions, like kee...
When you live with diabetes, looking after your feet extends beyond proper hygiene and the occasional pedicure. You must take precautions, like keeping your glucose levels balanced, and ensuring you keep your footsies clean and free of infection at all times to prevent severe foot problems from developing. This is because uncontrolled diabetes can damage your nerves (neuropathy) and affect your blood flow (peripheral vascular disease). Both of these problems can cause issues with your feet; starting with a lack of feeling which can cause even the smallest of wounds or sores to develop into severe infections. Those can progress into ulcers, and even to gangrene - tissue death. As such, managing your diabetes AND taking care of your feet and the common foot problems that may arise, are of the essence.
These symptoms are associated with common diabetic foot complications: diabetic neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease. If not monitored and treated with haste, they can lead to further skin and bone infections, wounds that do not heal, abscesses, gangrene, and foot deformities (including Charcot’s Foot).
Consult with your doctor and nutritionist on which medication, diet, exercise regimen and nutritional supplements you can take to balance your blood sugar levels and help prevent these conditions from developing, or progressing. Quit smoking. Lose weight. And consider taking a dietary supplement like CuraLin by CuraLife to promote healthy & balanced blood sugar levels daily.
Wash your feet in warm water every day, using a mild soap, and testing the water’s temperature with your elbow (in case nerve damage prevents you from feeling it with your feet). Trim your nails and smooth your corns and bunions (never cut or shave them!), then apply moisturizer.
Inspect your feet daily for sores, blisters, redness, calluses, or any other common foot problems - and have your doctor check your feet regularly as well. During check-ups, elevate your feet and wiggle your toes to promote blood flow to your feet.