Diabetes and Foot

Diabetes and Foot

Hiding under a neat pair of shoes, feet are generally least thought of. But when it comes to diabetes, feet call out for all that attention they had previously missed.

Diabetic foot problems are very common, but they remain neglected in the larger scheme until there is need for aggressive management - to avoid diabetic foot ulcers and perhaps amputation. This makes them prone to a host of conditions that impair quality of life of a person

People with diabetes, at some stage or the other, face diabetic foot problems. They can be minor in the form of numbness or tingling, corns, calluses, and blisters. They can be major in the case of diabetic foot infection, which can lead to diabetic foot ulcers. It is important for every person with diabetes to understand the importance of foot care and hygiene in order to prevent major complications

Diabetes can mean double trouble for your feet. First, diabetes can reduce blood flow to your feet, depriving your feet of oxygen and nutrients. This makes it more difficult for blisters, sores, and cuts to heal. And second, the diabetic nerve damage called peripheral neuropathy can cause numbness in your feet. When you can't feel cuts and blisters, you're more likely to get sores and infections.

If you don't notice or treat the sores, they can become deeply infected, and lead to amputation.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy can also cause sharp pain in your feet. You may become excruciatingly sensitive to the lightest touch, like the sheets on your bed.

10 Foot Care Tips to Protect Yourself

1. Check both feet daily.
2. Wash with warm -- not hot -- water.
3. Make sure your shoes fit well.
4. Skip the barefoot look.
5. Speak up.
6. Stay soft, but dry.
7. Try non-impact exercise.
8. Fix bunions, corns, and hammertoes.
9. Consider fitted orthotics.
10. Control your blood sugar.