Take care of them!

How to take care of feet if you have diabetes ? This disease can cause problems in the feet. In many occasions we usually ignore this part of the body, especially if we feel good. But when the feet are well it is exactly the right time to avoid the appearance of problems.

Thediabetes It can be difficult for the feet over time because blood glucose levels can cause neuropathy, or damage to the nerves. Damage to the nerve can cause numbness in your feet. So you can not feel a small cut or your shoes fit tight, and this in turn can lead to the appearance of calluses, blisters or other wounds.

These wounds can become infected and take longer to heal, especially if you have high blood glucose levels and poor blood circulation in the feet and legs (peripheral arterial disease or PAD).
 

Take care of them!


These steps will help you keep your feet in the best condition.

Check your feet every day

Look for calluses, blisters, peeling (dry skin), cracks in the skin (especially between the fingers and on the heels), redness, and swelling.

If you can not turn your leg to see the bottom of the foot, Allen Raphael, DPM, specialist in wound care at the Podiatry Center in Georgia , suggests putting a mirror on the floor and planting your foot on top of it to check the bottom.

Hydrate

This way you avoid the cracking of dry skin using a moisturizer and thick on your feet. Rub well, but do not put it between your fingers - those dark, damp areas are great hosts for the infection.

Wear shoes that fit your feet and do not walk barefoot

You must use a shoe that fits but does not tighten your feet and with room to move your fingers. For feet that are difficult to adjust or if you already have foot problems, you may need therapeutic shoes.

Show your feet to your doctor

The American Diabetes Association recommends a complete examination of the feet at least annually for people withdiabetes . The American Medical Podiatry Association estimated that 45 to 85% of foot injuries related to diabetes can be prevented with podiatric care.

Other specialists suggest visiting a podiatrist every 90 days (three months), if you are prone to foot problems or need help with trimming the nails.

Warning signs!

With these conditions, the feet deserve even more attention, do not forget them.

1. Foot deformities

Pay special attention to the care of the feet if you have any of these problems: hammertoes, overlapping fingers and bunions, which can put you at a higher risk for the development of calluses and ulcers (open wounds)

2. Use of uncomfortable shoes

Especially those that rub or pinch make it more likely that a blister or a wound forms.

3. Loss of sensitivity in feet

Neuropathy can cause you both pain and loss of sensation in your feet.

Cheat when you do not feel pain or you do not feel the formation of a wound (That's why daily checks are so important).

4. Bad circulation

It means that you do not get enough blood flow to heal wounds, so you will need more time to recover.

Some signs of poor circulation include weak pulses in the feet or legs, shiny and hairless skin, and discolored skin.

These reduce the healing speed of foot wounds and slow down the body's ability to fight infections.

"It's much easier for those infections that become powerful and spread quickly, because blood glucose is literally a source of food for bacteria in infections," says Rafael.
 

Get help!


Visit a podiatrist, a doctor specialized in foot care, if you have an open wound, blister or ulcer on your foot that is not healing. Do not try to self-medicate.

Experts believe that a wound that does not heal becomes a problem that needs aggressive treatment.

"If so, people could lose a finger or the total loss of a foot," he says. Michele Kurlanski, DPM, a wound care specialist at the Lighthouse Foot and Ankle Center in Portland . He points out that it is best to leave the treatment to the professionals.