Diabetes And Foot Care
Diabetes And Foot Care Importance
The problem with diabetes is that it causes nerve damage which reduces sensation in human feet. Small injuries may become infected and cause more problems in diabetic patients than a normal person. Diabetes also affects blood flow in legs and feet, making it difficult for cuts or sores to heal properly and effectively. In case of diabetes a small infection especially on the feet can become very serious. It has been observed that foot infection is the most common reason for hospitalization for people with diabetes and these foot ulcers due to non-healing wounds are the primary causes of surgical procedures in people with diabetes.
However, with a little bit foot care, it is estimated that as many as half of these surgical removal operations could be prevented. To make sure that one doesn’t have to face such problems they should handle each and every thing regarding their feet seriously. For example the decision of their shoes, socks, nail cutter and much more should be handled with extra care. They may also search for foot care products, get a foot care massage and make use of home remedies to prevent any problems. It is also necessary for people to be aware of the problems that are commonly suffered by diabetic’s patient. These include Corns and Calluses, Blisters, Bunions, Ingrown toenails,
How to avoid Corns and calluses?
This is a problem of thick layers of skin caused by too much rubbing or pressure on the same spot. This is a problem which anybody can face and to avoid more bad results one should not rub if they feel any kind of itchiness on their skin. Similarly they should avoid wearing heels so that the pressure on the front part of the foot is not more than the heel.
How are blisters formed?
Blisters are formed by rubbing the shoes on the same spot, or by wearing tight shoes that do not fit or wearing shoes without socks. Hence a diabetic patient must avoid wearing tight shoes and rather wear loose shoes.
Bunion and diabetes
A bunion is the slanting of the big toe toward or sometimes inwards the small toes creating a bump at the base of the big toe. It may also be caused by the unusual enlargement of the tissue or muscle. This spot can get red, sore, and infected. A bunion is often inherited and it is the result of wearing shoes with pointed toes.
Importance of toe nails for diabetic patients
Ingrown toenails occur normally when an edge of the nail grows into the skin which results in red and infected skin. Ingrown toenails may be the result of cutting into the corners of your toenails during trimming. This condition can also be caused by wearing shoes that are too tight. Hence, one can now understand how important it is to wear appropriate shoes and cut nails with care
Virus caused problem: Plantar warts
are generally formed on the bottom of the feet or on the toes. These warts are caused by a virus and non-usage of shoes. They tend to go away without any surgical treatment. A person is sure to be lucky if he/she gets this and is able to recover by taking care and making use of tips only. If these warts are left untreated then the patient might have to suffer a lot of pain.
Effect of diabetes on Hammertoes
Hammertoes form in case of weakness in a foot muscle or are caused by wearing high heels or poorly fitted shoes. This bends the bone of the foot making it look like a hammer. The affected areas may become sore. Since, during diabetes the flow of blood is not perfect that is why a diabetes patient faces this disease. It can cause problems in walking and in finding comfortable shoes. To get rid of this problem one has to get a surgical treatment.
Dry skin problems for diabetes patients
Dry skin is another problem in which cracks appear on the foot surface allowing germs to enter causing discomfort for person to walk. These cracks mostly appear on the heels and then the skin starts to come off which results in pain. This is not only common among diabetic’s patients but it is also one of the common foot problems for a normal person. To make sure that one doesn’t have to face this they should apply any lotion or Vaseline daily and keep their keep skin moisturized most of the time. T
Athlete’s foot and Diabetes
This disease is caused by a fungus which is transmitted in areas where most of the time people walk barefoot. The fungus causes redness, swelling and cracking of the skin. The affected person goes through a lot of itchiness on the foot. There is not a solid way to avoid this but a person should avoid sharing towels, foot wear and showers. A person with athlete’s foot has to undergo through various treatments therefore they should take care.