Prevent Complications with These Diabetic Foot Care Tips

Prevent Complications with These Diabetic Foot Care Tips by Louis Venter

A diagnosis of diabetes can be life-altering in many ways. Not only does it mean changing your eating habits and lifestyle, but it also puts you at higher risk of developing serious complications further down the road. Unfortunately, many diabetics wind up facing kidney failure, blindness, heart disease or amputation at some point in their lives. The good news is that preventive maintenance and regular monitoring can go a long way toward minimizing the risk of these complications.

Proper foot care is essential for anyone who suffers from diabetes. There are two primary ways that this disease increases the risk of foot problems. First, it can cause nerve damage to the feet, making it difficult to feel injuries when they happen. A simple cut or scrape that is left untreated can quickly become far more serious if it becomes infected.

Second, diabetes tends to reduce blood flow to the feet. Without adequate blood flow to the area, wounds may heal slowly, increasing the risk of infection. If an infection becomes serious enough, the only way to treat it is by amputating the limb to prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body.

Fortunately, these problems can often be avoided by properly caring for your feet and body. Try using the following tips to minimize the risk of developing serious infections:

1. Inspect your feet every day. Make a habit of thoroughly checking your feet for cuts, scrapes, blisters, red spots or other signs of trouble at the same time each day. If necessary, use a mirror or ask a friend or family member to check the bottoms of your feet. Schedule regular appointments with a podiatrist for foot inspections as well. According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, early involvement of a podiatrist in your diabetes care can reduce the chances of amputation by 85%. [1]

2. Maintain proper glucose levels. Getting control over your diabetes is essential. Work with your doctor to minimize spikes or dips in your sugar levels as much as possible. The more control you have over your diabetes, the less chance you will have of developing complications.

3. Wear the right shoes. Shoes that are designed specifically for diabetics help control moisture and provide padding to prevent blisters or other issues from developing. In some cases, the cost of these shoes may be covered by Medicare or Medicaid.

4. Don’t go barefoot. Keep your feet covered at all times. Since you may have difficulty feeling the bottoms of your feet, stepping on something can cause serious damage before you even realize harm has occurred. Ideally, you should wear closed-toe shoes rather than sandals to further minimize the risk of injuries.

5. Keep your toenails trimmed. If your toenails get too long, they could wind up cutting into the nearby skin. The best way to avoid this problem is by regularly trimming your nails or getting pedicures on a regular basis.

6. Thoroughly dry between your toes. Any moisture that forms between your toes can increase the risk of infection. After you wash your feet, be sure to remove all traces of moisture from this area. Additionally, only apply lotion to the tops and bottoms of your feet — not to the areas between your toes.

7. Avoid very hot or frigid cold water. Because your feet may have nerve damage, you should never put them in water without first testing the temperature. Test the water with the skin on your wrist before stepping in to make sure that it won’t cause any burns or injuries.

8. Find ways to stimulate blood flow to your feet. Sitting in the same position or crossing your legs for long periods of time can restrict blood flow. To keep your blood flowing as much as possible, avoid crossing your legs and periodically wiggle your toes. Elevating your feet may also be beneficial.

Proper diabetic foot care is essential if you want to prevent complications. It is never too early to start caring for your feet. By developing good foot care habits now, you can minimize the risk of serious problems further down the road.

References:

1. http://www.apma.org/Learn/FootHealth.cfm?ItemNumber=980

About the Author
Louis Venter is the creator of  http://www.diabetescoop.com a website devoted to providing support and on-topic, frequently updated information for diabetics and those in their support network.