Looking After Your Feet When You’re Diabetic

It’s important to take good care of your feet when you have diabetes. Diabetes can reduce the blood supply to your feet and cause peripheral neuropathy, which reduces the feeling in your feet and makes it harder to detect injuries. Unfortunately, some people with diabetes are so used to their feet hurting that they don’t know what’s normal anymore, so they end up with ulcers or infections that can turn serious very quickly if not treated quickly. To make sure that you’re always as safe as possible when it comes to foot health, here are some tips on how to look after your feet when you have diabetes.

What is Peripheral Neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that causes symptoms like numbness, burning or tingling in your hands and feet. People with diabetes have an increased risk of developing peripheral neuropathy, but it can also occur in people with certain medical conditions and infections like Guillain-Barré syndrome or HIV. You’re also at a higher risk if you’ve had chemotherapy for cancer treatment. If left untreated, peripheral neuropathy can lead to sores on your skin that are slow to heal. Eventually, nerve damage may become permanent. Keeping your blood sugar levels under control reduces your chances of getting peripheral neuropathy and reduces its severity should you develop it. This is because poorly controlled high blood sugar levels irritate nerve fibers and reduce their ability to carry messages to parts of your body such as muscles, which makes them less responsive to stimuli from temperature changes, touch or pain.

Shoes to Wear

If you have diabetes, try to wear shoes that fit well and offer good support. Wearing poorly fitting or flimsy shoes could result in cuts, blisters, and calluses – any of which can potentially cause ulcers. For example, squeezing or rubbing between your toes can cause ulcers. Corns are calluses, usually on top of toes, which develop from constant pressure. To reduce their development get special inserts for your shoes that give arch support and reduce pressure. Fungal infections can cause thickened skin and corns with scaley flaking patches on top of toes or nails. Restriction from tight footwear means reduced blood supply leading to slower healing if a sore does develop.

Foot problems are particularly problematic for people with diabetes because it can be harder to detect them early on due to a loss of feeling in their feet. So if you notice anything unusual about your foot, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor for an examination. And avoid cutting corners here: Proper foot care is essential if you want to avoid serious health complications down the road (such as heart disease). The good news is that most foot-care products are fairly affordable and easy to find.

Stop Smoking

Smoking is one of many factors that can affect blood circulation and make it difficult for a person with diabetes to avoid foot problems. It’s a good idea to cut down or stop smoking if you want to keep your feet healthy. Remember, having diabetes doesn’t necessarily mean there will be complications with your feet, but making sure they are looked after properly and that they stay as healthy as possible is always important.

Looking After Your Feet – Eating Habits

A healthy, balanced diet can go a long way towards preventing or managing diabetes. It’s important to include plenty of fruit and vegetables, wholegrains and high-fibre foods that are low in fat and sugar, while limiting your intake of salt, saturated fats and cholesterol. If you have diabetes, regular foot care is essential to prevent potential complications later on in life. If you notice any changes to your feet such as sores or redness, inform your healthcare team so they can treat these early on and give further advice for self-management at home. In addition to keeping regular check-ups with your doctor, there are several ways that healthy eating habits can help to protect against issues with peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes.