Diabetic Foot Health Facts
Posted on November 10, 2009
Filed Under Foot and leg health, diabetic socks | Leave a Comment
For diabetics, vigilant foot care is imperative. Diabetes can put your feet at risk of small cuts or blisters, which can produce serious consequences. It can also cause nerve damage making your feet insensitive to pain or discomfort. Diabetes may also reduce blood flow to the feet, making it difficult to heal an injury or resist infection. Because of these problems, a diabetic may not be aware of developing a blister or a sore, which if left unattended could lead to infection putting them at risk for an amputation.
Here are some helpful guidelines that will you to avoid serious foot problems:
- Call your doctor immediately if you notice any changes in your feet, no matter how minor.
- If your doctor hasn’t already prescribed them ask about special support socks.
- Check your feet daily for “hot spots”, infected nails, etc. Early detection and treatment can save you from problems down the road.
- Always keep your feet clean. Wash them with a mild soap and dry them well (especially between your toes) before putting on your socks and shoes to inhibit bacteria growth.
- Protect your feet from water that is too hot or too cold by checking it first with your elbow.
- Never soak your feet because soaking can dry out your skin.
- Trimming a diabetics nails should be done by following the natural curve of the toes. Cut toenails straight across and never cut into the corners; use an emery board or file on sharp corners. Do not try to remove corns and callus yourself – see a Podiatrist for this; NEVER use commercial corn cures – this is so important in those with diabetes as it is so easy to damage the skin.If you.re unable to trim them yourself, have your foot specialist trim them for you.
- Wear clean socks every day and pull or roll them on gently. Make sure your socks are not too large or small and that there are no holes or bunched areas that could rub your foot wrong.
- Purchase the best socks for foot health by making sure that they have no seams to avoid unnecessary pressure in the toe area. Studies show that diabetics socks with toe seams apply 10 times more pressure in your toe area than seamless support socks made specifically for diabetics.
- Wear sturdy supportive shoes that fit well and give your toes room to move. Have your shoes fit by a diabetic shoe specialist. Shoes that aren’t comfortable in the store will rarely feel comfortable later. Look for shoes that have a low heel and thick soles to provide maximum protection against injury. Shop for your shoes at the end of the day when your feet are most swollen. Make sure to wear socks when trying them on to ensure a good comfortable fit. Shoes that are too tight can cause blistering during the break in period. Break in new shoes slowly to avoid discomfort and abrasions.
- Before putting on your shoes, run your hand through the insides to remove rocks or sharp objects that may have fallen in them. If you feel rips or rough edges inside the shoe, it.s time for a new pair.
- Look after your health (loose weight; stop smoking; exercise; reduce your alcohol consumption).
- Avoid going barefoot, even in your own home (this lessens the chance of some accidental damage)
Get periodic foot exams. Seeing your foot and ankle surgeon on a regular basis can help prevent the foot complications of diabetes.1 in 6 people with diabetes will develop a foot ulcer during their lifetime. People with diabetes are 25 times more likely to lose a leg due to an ulcer. Up to 70% of all leg amputations occur in people with diabetes. Foot ulcers can result from a blister or sore that may develop on the foot due to poorly fitting socks and shoes and increased the amount of friction to skin. Moisture in the shoe environment or a moist sock increases the friction that can cause the sock to rub against the skin creating blisters and ulcerations. Excess moisture also can act as a breeding ground for infection-causing bacteria. The best fibers for moisture control are synthetic fibers that wick excess moisture away from the skin.
Due to arterial abnormalities as well as a tendency to delayed wound healing, infection or gangrene of the foot is relatively common. 10-15% of all diabetics will develop foot ulcers at some point in their lives. Foot related problems are responsible for up to 50% of diabetics who are admitted to hospitals.
Serious foot problems can often be prevented by maintaining healthy blood glucose and blood pressure levels, understanding foot health facts, taking good care of your feet (daily), and keeping in close contact with your doctor or podiatrist at the first sign of problems. The good news is, of all the problems that can arise from diabetes, serious foot problems that result in amputation are the easiest to prevent.
Foot care involves taking special steps to avoid foot problems such as sores, cuts, bunions, and calluses. Good care includes daily examination of the feet, toes and toenails and having as part of your diabetic supplies, comfortable shoes and diabetic socks. Diabetics have to take special care of their feet because nerve damage and reduced blood flow may result in loss of feeling (peripheral neuropathy) in their feet. They may not notice cuts and other problems as soon as they should.
According to the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP), a partnership among the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and over 200 organizations, including the American Podiatric Medical Association, comprehensive foot care programs can reduce amputation rates by 45% to 85%. A comprehensive foot care program would include:
- Early identification of the high risk diabetic foot
- Early diagnosis of foot problems
- Early intervention to prevent further deterioration that may lead to amputation
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