Diabetes and Foot Care: Tips for Maintaining Healthy Feet
Diabetes is a serious disease, affecting many of the major systems of your body, including your immune, circulatory, and nervous systems. The effects of diabetes are especially evident in your extremities, including your feet and toes. Your podiatrist wants you to know how to take care of your feet when you have diabetes.
What You Need To Know About Diabetic Foot Care
Diabetes can cause these foot and toe problems:
Delayed healing, due to an impaired immune system. That means if you have a small blister, cut, or other injury, it may not heal properly and can become a painful diabetic ulcer. A diabetic ulcer can keep you from walking.
Lack of adequate blood flow, due to an impaired circulatory system. That means if you don’t have enough blood flowing to your tissues, soft tissue can die, which could lead to amputations of toes and feet.
Nerve damage, due to an impaired nervous system. That means if you injure your feet or toes, you might not feel it. Diabetes can also cause painful diabetic neuropathy, which can affect your quality of life.
Let’s look at a few foot care tips to help you maintain healthy feet. Remember to:
- Avoid going barefoot
- Wash and dry your feet thoroughly and apply lotion to your feet to keep your skin from drying and cracking
- Check your feet and toes for injuries
- Apply antibiotic cream and bandage any cuts or open sores
- Keep your toenails trimmed straight across to prevent ingrown toenails
- Wear supportive, comfortable shoes that protect your feet
- Exercise your ankles, feet, and toes every day with simple stretches
Want To Know More?
If you are one of the over 29 million people in the United States who are diabetic, you need to protect your feet and toes. Your podiatrist can help. To learn more about how diabetes affects your feet and why diabetic foot care is important, talk with your podiatrist today.
