Keeping Your Feet Healthy As a Diabetic

If you have diabetes or are at risk, it is a good idea to understand the importance of proper foot care. Diabetes has effects on the entire body, but some parts suffer worse than others. The place that commonly gets hit hard is the feet and legs. Without proper care and maintenance, the feet can deteriorate and result in serious and alarming health issues. However, there is no need to be scared, because there are ways to prevent serious injury.
First, it would be good to point out that Diabetes can affect the feet in different ways, depending in the individual. Some people experience damaging of the nerves, otherwise known as marginal neuropathy. A side effect of nerve damage is numbness of the feet, which makes detecting damage difficult.




Diabetes also can reduce blood circulation in the feet. Lower blood circulation causes blood to pool in the legs. Proper nutrients and oxygen flow are restricted, and can make healing time from injuries take longer. Poor circulation results in other health conditions that can progress with time into more serious ones. Foot infections are certainly not unheard of in diabetes patients, because the bodies infection resistance is greatly reduced. Ailments like foot ulcers can be a scary prospect, but rest assured that many patients have been through these issues before and have found ways to cope and heal.
Now that you have a little more background on the conditions caused by Diabetes, I will discuss some activities to implement in your daily regimen to prevent or lessen the effects. The number one rule is to maintain good hygiene. Daily washing of the feet are highly recommended, and are highly effective when done with antibacterial soap. Give your feet a good drying with a towel and make sure you get in between the toes. As discussed earlier, Diabetic patients are more prone to infection. Washing and drying the feet keeps fungal infections from starting which in turn keeps you safe. To get extra dry, try using sprinkling some talcum powder over your freshly dried feet for a dry and smooth feeling.
Spend at least a few minutes a day for a close inspection of the feet. Look for any blistering, cuts, bruising or damage in general. If you find any, it is advised that you see your doctor about it. Damages could easily turn into infection if not cared for soon.




To further prevent damage, pay special attention to the shoes you wear. When buying shoes, make sure the fit is comfortable and that there are no bumps or snags that could rub against your feet during the day. Another garment all diabetics should consider is medical compression socks. This is an easy way to improve circulation. Compression socks can be worn throughout the day and help massage the calves to get blood flowing.
As a final note, make sure to keep your toenails well trimmed and clean them underneath. Use care to prevent hangnails and other damages.