Diabetic foot care is an important routine of a diabetic patients daily life. Many diabetics suffer complications of diabetes that can lead to foot ulcers and amputation of the feet.
Diabetic foot care begins with a complete inspection of the feet. The diabetic patient needs to check all areas of the feet for sores. The diabetic patient may have diabetic neuropathy which is nerve damage to the feet.
Therefore, sores that may be present on the feet may not be felt. If the person with diabetes does not do daily inspections of the feet, the sore could become infected.
Infection is made worse if the diabetic patient has circulatory problems that are a common complication of diabetes. The compromised circulatory system fails to deliver white blood cells to the sore which would fight infection naturally. Therefore, sores that do not get medical attention are at high risk of infection and can pose serious problems and even develop gangrene.
Sores to the feet should get medical treatment as soon as they are spotted. Prompt medical treatment is the best way to prevent infections.
Along with daily inspection, the feet should be cleaned with warm water daily. After the feet are washed, the feet need to be dried thoroughly.
Dry skin on the feet should be treated with moisturizer or foot lotion. The moisturizer should not be applied between the toes. The moisturizer may prevent the dry skin from cracking which can cause sores that are at risk of becoming infected.
Calluses, warts, and corns should not be treated with home treatments or over the counter removers. It is much safer for the diabetic patient to consult a physician for any foot problems.
When cutting the toenails, the diabetic patient needs to be careful not to cut them too short. Cutting nails too short can lead to ingrown toenails which cause sores around the corner edges of the toenails.
Diabetic foot care begins with a complete inspection of the feet. The diabetic patient needs to check all areas of the feet for sores. The diabetic patient may have diabetic neuropathy which is nerve damage to the feet.
Therefore, sores that may be present on the feet may not be felt. If the person with diabetes does not do daily inspections of the feet, the sore could become infected.
Infection is made worse if the diabetic patient has circulatory problems that are a common complication of diabetes. The compromised circulatory system fails to deliver white blood cells to the sore which would fight infection naturally. Therefore, sores that do not get medical attention are at high risk of infection and can pose serious problems and even develop gangrene.
Sores to the feet should get medical treatment as soon as they are spotted. Prompt medical treatment is the best way to prevent infections.
Along with daily inspection, the feet should be cleaned with warm water daily. After the feet are washed, the feet need to be dried thoroughly.
Dry skin on the feet should be treated with moisturizer or foot lotion. The moisturizer should not be applied between the toes. The moisturizer may prevent the dry skin from cracking which can cause sores that are at risk of becoming infected.
Calluses, warts, and corns should not be treated with home treatments or over the counter removers. It is much safer for the diabetic patient to consult a physician for any foot problems.
When cutting the toenails, the diabetic patient needs to be careful not to cut them too short. Cutting nails too short can lead to ingrown toenails which cause sores around the corner edges of the toenails.
About the Author:
Do your feet a favor by looking into your foot health if you are foot having problems. And please seek any podiatrist for help if you have any unknown foot pain. We have a free forum full of podiatrists, that give free foot health advice.
