People who suffer from diabetes often face foot problems. Diabetes can severely damage nerves. As a result, people with foot injury or pressure do not feel pain earlier until severe damage or infection develops.
Diabetes makes the body more susceptible to the injury, as it reduces the ability to fight infections. Damage to blood vessels occurs when blood and oxygen supply is checked to the feet region. This causes small sores or breaks in the skin – this may become deep skin ulcers. In severe cases, affected limbs may need to be ampulated.
If you have diabetes then you should take the following precautions:
1. Control blood sugar
2. Get a foot exam by a qualified doctor at least twice a year.
3. Check and take care of your feet.
Instructions:
1. Check your feet carefully – the top, sides, heels, and between the toes.
2. Wash your feet with lukewarm water and soap. Do not use strong soaps.
3. Dry your feet, particularly between toes. Infection can develop in moist areas.
4. In order to keep the skin soft, use skin lotion, petroleum jelly, lanolin or oil.
How to trim foot nails?
If your toenails are not trimmed correctly, you may suffer from foot sore or ulcer. Following are the safest steps for trimming nails:
1. Soak your feet in lukewarm water.
2. Cut the nail straight across
3. Avoid sitting or standing at one place for long periods of time.
4. Stop smoking cigarettes, as it decreases blood flow to the feet.
Tips on shoes:
When you go outside, wear shoes to protect your feet from injury. Otherwise, in case of minor cuts, you will not feel the pain.
1. Check the inside of your shoes for rough areas that may cause skin infection.
2. Change your shoes every 5 hours of wearing them
3. Wear comfortable, well fitting shoes that have plenty of room in them.
4. Wear shoes that are made up of canvas, leather, or suede
5. Do not wear shoes with pointed or open toes
