Many people simply don’t realize the health-risks involved in being diabetic. Because so many people have been diagnosed with diabetes it’s sometimes seen as being an illness which isn’t really that big a deal.
Unfortunately for many sufferers it is a big deal and there are those who have lost their vision and even had to have their feet amputated. This doesn’t sound pleasant at all which is why fully understanding this illness is important. Whether you have diabetes yourself or know someone who does you should aim to be as knowledgeable as you can.
Looking after your feet is necessary if you are diabetic and there are a number of things you need to be careful about. First of all you should never walk about barefoot. Even in your own home. There could be pins, screws, stones, toys or any number of other things lying around. You don’t want to step on anything hard like this as you can damage your skin.
Also be very mindful about the temperature. Avoid extreme temperatures if you can and if you have been outside in freezing cold temperatures, make sure you don’t warm your feet up too quickly in front of the fire. This can cause chilblains which can be very painful.
Look at your feet everyday to make sure you don’t have any cuts, swelling, blisters, corns and such like. When you notice any problems you can then take action. Some people try to self-medicate but just make the matter even worse. Instead you should go to a podiatrist for help.
When cutting your toe nails, you need to avoid causing them to become ingrown. To do this, you should cut the nail straight across and not too short. If the edges of the nail are sharp, you can use a nail file to make them more rounded.
When it comes to wearing socks you need to avoid the regular type with the tight elastic band. Instead you should buy socks specifically for those who are diabetic because they will be looser and not cause problems with your circulation.
The same goes for shoes. If you buy regular shoes you might find that they are too tight. There are actually shoes designed specifically for diabetic sufferers. If you do decide to wear sandals without socks, make sure you remember to use a high SPF on your feet to prevent them from burning.
Although the above tips might seem really dull and boring, it’s for your own good. Don’t become complacent because if you are neglectful of your feet you could end up having them amputated. Not very pleasant, eh?
Foot Care For Diabetics
Written by April
April
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7 comments
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Tuesday, 13 April 2010 09:39
posted by
Karen
My best friend from childhood died from diabetes. I still remember her having huge problems with her legs in the last years of her life. It's sad that there isn't a cure for such a terrible disease which seems to be affecting more and more people in the so-called "civilized" world.
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Tuesday, 13 April 2010 09:52
posted by
April
My boyfriend was at the funeral of a friend just last week. She had type 1 diabetes and lost most of her eyesight. There was also talk of the possibility of having her feet amputated however she died before that needed to be done.
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My uncle on the other hand has type 2 diabetes and is terrible at looking after himself. He eats too much sugar, smokes and drinks alcohol. He acts as if he doesn't want to acknowledge what diabetes could do to him.
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Tuesday, 13 April 2010 09:57
posted by
April
Karen, I forgot to say sorry about your friend dying from diabetes. It just goes to show what a terrible illness it is and people need to learn how to manage the illness the best that they can.
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Wednesday, 14 April 2010 09:24
posted by
jacksparrow
What you said is right - my dad has diabetes and much of his time is spent looking after himself to avoid more knock-on problems from the condition. Many times his toes start to rot and medication would have to be applied to reverse the effects. He also suffers from cataracts and other eye conditions exacerbated by diabetes. I would certainly agree that anybody who suffers from diabetes to really take care of themselves, and those who might be at risk, to be even more careful (like myself).
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Saturday, 17 April 2010 20:45
posted by
Karen
Thank you April. My friend went completely blind several years before she died. It's sad, she was only 36 or 37 when she passed away. It's interesting that her diabetes was triggered by the shock she had during a very big earthquake that stroke when we were about 9 years of age. It was truly scary, many buildings collapsed, many people died... some others, like my friend Diana, were affected for the rest of their lives.
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