The Importance Of Taking Care Of Your Feet If You’re Diabetic

By Author: Stanley Boyer
Total Articles: 3
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There are 25.8 million people in the United States who are living with diabetes, and an estimated 7 million of them are undiagnosed. Additionally, a whopping 79 million are pre-diabetic, making the disease one of the biggest problems facing the country. Self-management of the disease is the key to improve quality of life, and one of the things to keep a close eye on is the feet.

If you are diagnosed with diabetes, then you have a higher risk of acquiring foot infections. The high blood glucose combined with the damaged blood vessels can reduce the blood circulating in your feet. Heightened blood glucose levels also prevent the white blood cells from fighting off infection. Therefore, if you cut your foot, the healing process is excruciatingly long. This calls for stricter foot care, and there are a number of ways to accomplish this.

One of the most basic measures to ward off bacteria is to keep your feet clean, but be sure not to soak it. Soaking your feet makes them soft, leaving them dry and prone to cuts. Likewise, always dry the moist areas between your toes. Apply talcum powder to minimize infections.

Foot ...
... ulcers are another cause for concern for diabetics because they sometimes lead to amputation if left untreated. Periodic loss of sensation in the feet is another effect of the disease, so there are times when you won’t notice that you have been injured. The injured area eventually causes ulceration. If you are experiencing some numbness, you may want to consider purchasing a pair of diabetic shoes.

Diabetic shoes are specially designed footwear that reduces the risk of injury to the feet. They sometimes come in the form of shoe inserts customized for each patient. Some people worry that these shoes limit their choice of footwear, but there are actually diabetic shoes for men and women that come in a variety of styles. They run the entire gamut of shoe designs, from sandals to athletic and even dress shoes, among others.

In addition to getting diabetic shoes for women and men, people afflicted with the disease should have regular checkups with their podiatrist. Most diabetes experts recommend that you see a podiatrist at least once a year to ensure that everything is fine. Using these preventative measures can improve quality of life despite the physical irregularities you are experiencing.

If you want to learn more about diabetic shoes for men and women, you can find relevant information on diabetestips.org/the-importance-of-diabetic-shoes. You can also find more information on diabetes self-management on diabetesselfmanagement.com and diabetes.org.