Can you imagine finding injuries on your toes and feet that are not painful but health-threatening? This is the case for diabetic patients, and if you recently got your diagnosis, it might be time to learn about diabetes foot care. Unfortunately, diabetes prevents adequate blood flow to the feet and can damage nerves making it challenging to feel pain and treat injuries with immediate care. It also makes it difficult for wounds to heal, and the small injuries on your feet would easily progress into foot ulcers. You should consult an expert diabetic foot in Las Olas to educate you on proper foot care. These diabetic foot care tips might help prevent unforeseen severe injuries and foot ulcers.
An Elaborate Foot Care Routine
Look for redness, swellings, blisters, cuts, and sores on the feet daily, and you can ask a friend to help inspect the feet when you cannot see the bottom. Alternatively, you can use a mirror to inspect your feet when you live alone. You can wash the feet with warm water, massage them, wipe dry, especially around the toes and apply lotion. You should avoid applying lotion between the toes as it leads to moisture build-up, leading to fungal infection in diabetic patients. If you cannot trim the nails yourself, you can see a professional beautician cutting your nails. However, they should use disinfected items and nail cutters as it is easy to pick diseases from shared beauty products. Finally, walk frequently, but under a doctor’s instructions, especially on insulin treatment.
Foot Wear
The footwear might contribute to injuries for diabetic feet, and you should choose comfortable and properly fitting ones. The lining should be smooth, and you can ask the doctor about diabetic feet shoe coverage, which can improve your condition. Finally, don’t walk barefoot even in your home.
Prevention
You can prevent foot injuries by avoiding extreme temperatures as you might not feel when the feet are burning or freezing due to nerve damage. Thus, avoid walking out in the snow without proper shoes which insulate the feet and avoid dipping the feet in hot water. Finally, it is better to avoid hot water bottles as they might accidentally burn your feet.
Lifestyle Changes
You might change your lifestyle after the diabetes diagnosis; for instance, you can stop smoking due to long-term complications. You may also wish to reduce alcohol consumption as it leads to severely low blood sugar, impacting your health.
Seek Assistance from a Podiatrist
A podiatrist will care for your feet and guide you to prevent issues like calluses, corns, and ingrown nails. You may wish to choose a podiatrist who is experienced with caring for diabetic feet as they help you find the right routine which works for your feet. Finally, take care of diabetes as it is the first contributor to foot issues; thus, you should work with healthcare professionals to help put the condition under control.
Final Thoughts
Diabetic foot issues can be disabling when left without treatment; thus, you should look for a proper care routine that works for you. You might incorporate lifestyle changes such as reduced alcohol consumption and quitting smoking. Finally, you should work with diabetic experts to put the condition under control.
