Diabetic Foot Care - Problem and Cure

We all know diabetes caused due to too much sugar in the blood. But do you know diabetes can damage the nerves and blood vessels of the foot?  

 This damage can cause numbness and reduce the sensitivity felling in your feet. With this, your foot couldn't heal well if they are injured. If you get a blister, you may not notice it and it can get worse. 

So today we discuss the risk factor Diabetic Foot Care Problem and Cure in the article. 

In this article 

• Why foot care in Important 
• Regular Foot Care and Inspection 
• Socks and Shoes 
• If you Have a Foot Problem 

Why Foot care is Important 

Preventative measures can greatly reduce the chances of foot complications. 

Over time, diabetes can cause a decrease in the sensitivity of the feet, resulting in a wound or burn being overlooked. Circulatory problems can also arise due to the thickening of the arteries and loss of arterial elasticity, which can adversely affect wound healing and increase the risk of gangrene. 

However, several studies show that preventive measures can greatly reduce foot complications, help keep your skin healthy, and prevent injury to your feet. 

Must read: - How can diabetes affect the feet? By medicalnewstoday.com   

You should apply these preventive measures above and beyond such general recommendations as consulting a dietitian to help you design a balanced diet and manage your weight, regular physical activity by making your better Things to Do During Lockdown at Home, maintaining your glycemia as close as possible to target values, having your blood pressure regularly monitored by a health care professional, taking your medication as prescribed, and not smoking. 

Regular Foot Care and Inspection 

Foot care 

• Wash your feet with warm water. Dry them well, especially between and under the toes. Avoid foot baths for more than 10 minutes. 
• If your skin is dry, apply a thin layer of unscented, hydrating Moisturising Foot Cream every day. Avoid getting it between the toes. 
• Carefully inspect your feet under good lighting to detect any corns and calluses, cracks, wounds, blisters, redness, or abnormal discoloration. If you have cracked heels then you must apply Foot cracked heel cream. 

Toenail care 

• After a shower or bath, get comfortably seated. Use an emery board to file the edges of your ingrown toenails. Always file in the same direction, not back and forth. Your toenails should never be filed shorter than the end of the toes. 
• Do not cut your toenails with a nail clipper or any other sharp instrument. 
• If your toenails are thick, ingrown, or abnormally shaped, consult a podiatrist or foot-care nurse. If needed, they can refer you to a doctor. 

Callus care 

• Never apply plasters containing salicylic acid, liquids, or special ointments. 
• After showering or bathing, use a pumice stone or an exfoliating file on your damp skin. Always wet the pumice first. Rub gently, always in the same direction, never back and forth. Do not try to remove calluses completely at one go. 
• If necessary, consult a podiatrist, foot care nurse, or your doctor. 

Annual exam 

Your doctor, a nurse at the diabetes center, a podiatrist, or a foot-care nurse should examine your feet at least once a year — more often if there is a risk or presence of complications. This exam includes a sensitivity test using a short polymer fiber called a monofilament. 

Socks and Shoes 

• Wear socks properly fitting, white, or light colored cotton socks, avoiding tight elastic that constricts blood flow or seams that put pressure on the dry skin. Change your socks every day, turn them inside out when you wash them, and dry them on the hot cycle. 
• Wear soft shoes that are comfortable as soon as you buy them. Shop for shoes late in the day when your feet are at their most swollen. The sole should be flexible and the heel not higher than 5 cm. Before putting on your shoes, check inside them by hand for any small objects (e.g., a pebble, nail, key), or tears or creases in the lining. Make sure to apply Moisturizing Foot Cream for because to make them healthy. 
• Always wear rubber sandals or flip flops in public spaces such as swimming pools, beaches, and showers. Never walk barefoot. 

• If necessary, consult a podiatrist, foot care nurse, or an orthotist (a person certified to prescribe orthotics) for custom-made shoes. 

If you have a Foot Problem 

Injury 

Clean the wound with cooled saltwater and cover it with a dry dressing, taking care not to squeeze the foot. Do not apply adhesive tape directly to the skin. 

Check every day for signs of infection, such as redness, heat (to the touch), swelling, odour, or discharge. If you detect any of these, see your doctor or get to a walk-in clinic as soon as possible. 

Pain 

If you’re experiencing foot pain, see your doctor or go to a walk-in clinic to be assessed and to obtain prescription painkillers, if required. 

Circulation 

If your feet get cold, apply Foot Cream and wear wool socks. Never put a hot-water bottle or heating pad directly on your feet. Bundle up against the cold to prevent frostbite. 

Move your toes often and make circular motions with your feet