8 Foot Care Tips for Diabetic Patients

Diabetes causes nerve damage which takes away the feeling in your feet. It also causes reduce blood flow to extremities which may lead to poor healing. Due to these reasons, you are more likely to not notice a foreign object on your feet and develop an injury or infection that could lead to the risk of an amputation.

Below are some precautions that you can take in order to maintain healthy feet.

• schedule regular medical exams, including foot checks 
• check your ABCs (A1c, blood pressure, and cholesterol)
• monitoring blood sugar daily
• regular exercise
• eating a properly balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables

Prevention is better than cure. Maintaining a proper foot care regimen can help prevent serious foot complications in the future.

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Proper Foot Care

1. Inspect your feet daily

This includes tops, sides, soles, heels, and the area in between the toes. If you are unable to do it by yourself, you can ask someone else to help you. Any signs of redness, sores, blisters must be brought to your health-care providers' attention.

2. Wash your feet with lukewarm water

Check the temperature of the water by dipping your elbow or fingers before submerging your foot. Your foot is less sensitive in testing the water temperature. Avoid hot water and harsh soaps as these may irritate your skin. 

3. Dry your feet

Gently dry your feet by patting with a towel, taking care of drying in between the toes. Avoid rubbing to prevent skin damage.

4. Moisturize

If skin feels dry, apply proper amount of lotion, avoiding the skin between the toes as it may cause fungal infection.

5. Trim nails carefully

Cut straight across while trimming the edges. Avoid cutting nails too short as it may lead to ingrown. 

6. Never treat corns and calluses on your own.

At the first sign of a skin problem, consult your doctor.

7. Wear clean, dry socks

8. Never walk barefoot

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Signs and Symptoms of Foot Problems

Some early signs of foot problems, this may include:

• burning, tingling, or painful feet
• sensation changes when it comes to heat, cold, or touch
• changes in the color or shape of your feet
• loss of hair on the lower extremities
• thickening and yellowing of the toenails
• red spots, blisters, sores, corns

Potential complications of not following the above guidelines may cause foot infection. Infection that do not heal will cause the tissues to die and the skin to turn black. This is known as gangrene. The treatment for this may be amputation of the leg or part of the foot.

When to Visit the Doctor

As mentioned above, it is ideal to schedule regular check-ups with your health care provider. Early detection of signs and symptoms have a better prognosis. If necessary, your doctor may recommend a podiatrist, someone who specializes in foot care, to recommend special shoes that may help your condition.

Since diabetes-related foot problems are difficult to treat and can worsen quickly if left untreated, it is best to seek immediate medical attention at the first sign of problems.

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