Saturday, July 3, 2010

Take Care Of Your Diabetic Feet

By David Thorpe

If you suffer from diabetes, it is important that you carry out diabetic foot care on a regular basis, preferably daily. People who suffer from the medical condition are more prone to problems with their feet such as sores, cuts and bruises. General practitioners and other health advisers will look at a diabetic patients feet as part of their health check ups.

Generally if the person with the illness spots any problems with their feet then they should consult an expert and not try to deal with the problem their self. Anyone with the health condition need to keep their feet clean, with water that is not too hot. The toenails should be kept short. A daily inspection of both feet including looking between the toes should be carried out. Any signs of dry skin should be treated with moisturiser. An anti fungal cream should be used to clear up infections such as athletes foot.

The patient should never walk about without some type of footwear to protect their feet. Wearing some type of footwear will prevent the person from treading on small objects such as small toys or stones and suffering cuts and bruises to their feet. When wearing shoes, socks should be worn to prevent the shoes from rubbing. The socks should not be tight fitting and should be free from seams and elastic.

If looking for new shoes, these should be comfortable and should not rub against the feet in any way. The shoes should have ample room at the toes and pointed toes should be avoided. Shoes with heels may cause pressure to certain areas of the feet and high heels should not be considered when purchasing shoes. Ideally shoes with good strap fastenings or laces should be the preferred choice as opposed to slip on shoes.

To get a better feel of the shoe, it is a good idea to wear the type of sock you normally wear. Have a good feel about inside the shoe with your hand to make sure there is no loose stitching or rough patches that could rub against the feet. If you have problems with the size or shape of your feet, it may be necessary to get shoes specially made.

Burning the feet may be a problem as having a high sugar count in the blood can cause the nerves to become damaged and therefore the sensation of burning will not be felt. Before going in the bath, it will be necessary to feel the temperature of the water using a hand, rather than just stepping in. Use of hot water bottles, electric blankets and foot spas should be avoided as the sensation of using these items cannot be felt by the feet.

Specially made socks are available that will help to prevent sores, swelling and nerve damage as well as improving circulation. The socks have no elastic or seams that can rub against the feet and cause sores. The socks are made of cotton or other materials and can also be antibacterial.

It is a good idea to include products for moisturising and preventing bacteria as part of the daily routine. There are many creams and lotions available that make looking after the condition of your feet easier. If there are signs of dry areas or athletes foot it important to treat these areas.

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