Diabetes is one emerging and rapidly increasing disease. In routine course the people do not consider foot care to be an important part of their health which is truly wrong. However, diabetic patients cannot take their feet for granted. There are two major complications that can be faced by diabetic patients when it comes to their feet. First is diabetic nerve damage and the other is poor blood circulation. These two complications lead to problems such as ulcers that may go severe to become amputations.
Complications:
- The common foot problems faced by diabetic patients are: corns, calluses, bunions, ingrown toe nails, arthritis and even broken bones and ruptured vessels.
- The people having diabetic nerve damage can not even feel the wound or ulcer on their feet. They may keep walking miles without feeling any pain caused due to skin damage or wounds as a result of which the area gets infected.
- As the people with diabetes have poor blood circulation so enough oxygen is not carries by the red blood cells to their feet. Moreover, its blood cells that carry antibiotics to the infected areas. When the blood supply will be insufficient the feet will not get enough oxygen and antibiotics would not be carried which will result in failure of wounds to get healed rapidly and properly.
- Diabetes patients have high blood sugars which can interfere the natural immune and defense system of the body. When the defense system is interrupted the white blood cells find it hard to heal the wounds.
- The fungus attacks are more frequent in case of diabetes, as the fungus grows more in the presence of sugar. When the foot skin will be damaged, the germs will enter easily. In the presence of moisture and availability of high sugar in blood the fungus will find perfect conditions to grow.
Tips To Prevent Foot Problems:
Here are some daily based practices which may help to prevent above mentioned complications:
- Touch your feet everyday: tops, bottoms, backs, sides and in between the toes.
- Keep feet clean and dry.
- Cut the nails and file the edges properly.
- Moisturize the dry feet skin daily with good lotion.
- Avoid injuries to feet.
- Wear well fitted socks made from material that wicks away the moisture and sweat.
- Wear soft shoes and avoid flat shoes.
- Check the cracks in the shoes. If any cracks found, replace your shoes with the new ones.
- Exercise daily and keep you weight under control.
- try to keep blood sugar level under control and monitored.
