If you're a baby boomer living with diabetes, you need to be aware of steps you should take to decrease your chances of losing a limb. The loss of a toe, a foot or a leg is quite traumatic, and the therapy, after such a procedure, can be extensive. But an even bigger fear a diabetic may have is, "what if they didn't get all the infection?" Or, if the infection returns, "what will they have to cut off next??" Today, there is tons of helpful information available for baby boomers living with diabetes, to guard against a devastating loss of this nature. Your information gathering starts right here so, read on!
Just because you have type 2 diabetes, does not mean, sometime in the future, you will face amputation. Foot problems arise because of nerve damage, poor circulation, or both. Nerve damage is often the cause of a loss in feeling, not being aware of pain or temperature. If pain goes untreated, and the skin breaks down, an infection will most likely, set in. And infections are difficult to treat because of poor circulation found in most people with diabetes. Nerve damage can sometimes change the shape of your feet and toes. Ask your physician about therapeutic shoes and socks for comfort and to guard against future foot injuries.
Foot injuries require serious attention because diabetes causes a narrowing and hardening of the blood vessels in the feet and legs. This is described as poor circulation. Poor circulation makes fighting foot infections much more difficult. With diabetes the primary cause of hardening and narrowing blood vessels, smoking only makes the problem worse. For all diabetics, the single best thing you can do to improve
your condition is to STOP SMOKING!
To protect against foot injuries and possible infections, you should adopt a routine of
daily checking and caring for your feet:
- Daily exercise improves the circulation in your feet and legs.
- See a podiatrist to help you resolve minor foot problems, before becoming large ones
- Check your feet every day and notify your physician of any sores or changes in your feet.
- Wash your feet daily with a mild soap and warm water, before drying completely.
- As previously mentioned, stop smoking!!!
- Wear only well-fitting, comfortable shoes.
- Soften dry skin (especially the heels of your feet), with lotion or petroleum jelly.
The trauma involved in losing a toe, foot, or leg needs no explanation. And in the back of your mind is the question, "what will I lose next?" The harsh reality of an amputation is to keep you alive with the afterthought being, "will I face this again sometime in the future"? Poor circulation and nerve damage make it difficult for the heart to pump vital nutrients through out the body. But it's important to know most amputations are preventable with proper foot ware and regular foot care.
Always follow the advice of your physician and notify them immediately whenever a problem surfaces. There is plenty of additional information on what you can do to lower your chances of dealing with such a predicament. Read all the information you can get your hands on and confer regularly with your doctor.
All baby boomers living with diabetes will not face amputation. Express your concerns to your doctor, follow his/her recommendations, and research preventing amputations on your own. Learn what you can do to minimize your chances of losing a limb and reducing the exposure to possible infections. Arming yourself with the latest information, will put you in a place of control over your illness. Do your homework!
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