If you have been newly diagnosed with diabetes, you may have many questions about how to stay healthy while living with your condition. Most people are familiar with the idea that you must watch your diet very closely when you are diabetic, but many newly diagnosed patients aren’t aware that there are other health concerns that you must also pay special attention. One of these areas is the care of your feet.
Foot health and diabetes
There are a number of reasons why diabetics need to take exceptionally good care of their feet. High glucose, or sugar, in the blood damages tiny blood vessels that supply our bodies with nutrients and oxygen-rich blood. When these small vessels become repeatedly damaged, they no longer can do an adequate job supplying our organs and tissues. The feet are particularly susceptible to damage because of the amount of pressure that is exerted on them daily from walking, running, standing, and exercising.
A common issue that arises in diabetic patients relating to foot health is nerve damage. When tiny blood vessels are no longer able to supply nerves with oxygen and nutrition, the nerve cells start to malfunction, reducing sensation in the feet. There is also a reduction in oil and sweat production, which can lead to sores and cracked skin. Also, since sensation is reduced, many times diabetics will not feel cuts, scrapes, or splinters that affect the feet and infections may result. Infections in diabetics are especially problematic because a diabetic’s immune system is often weak as a complication of high blood sugar making fighting off infections more difficult.
Steps to foot healh
To take proper care of your feet, take time each day to inspect them. Look for cuts, scrapes, and splinters and if present, clean the area with a disinfectant. Keep a careful watch on the injury daily to watch for signs of infection which will include redness, heat, and swelling of the foot. If an infection appears to be developing, be sure to contact your physician to have it treated immediately. Certain types of infections will not clear up on their own and antibiotics will need to be prescribed.
Living with diabetes will definitely require some lifestyle changes on your part. Watching your food choices and portion sizes will help to keep your sugar under control. When you add examining your feet to your daily routine, it will soon become habit and you will be on your way to protecting your health, even with diabetes.
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