Key complications caused by diabetes affect both the feet and legs. The disease makes one vulnerable to severe infections and other problems arising from small wounds. According to the specialists dealing in bracing and footwear in Las Vegas, these wounds fail to heal because of reduced blood flow to the legs, loss of the sense of feeling, and nerve damage.
If you have diabetes, proper foot care is mandatory for the prevention of foot ulcers and other infections. Here are some smart tips to help you prevent your feet from catching infections or developing other complications.
Never Use Your Feet to Test If Water Is Hot
When you have diabetes, you suffer neuropathy, also known as nerve damage. It, therefore, becomes impossible to sense the actual water temperatures with a foot that has no nerves. If the water is too hot, you will end up scalding your skin. You should test the water temperature using the elbow before stepping into a shower. This will help you avoid blisters and burns, which are entry points for infections.
Maintain Your Blood Sugar Levels
People with diabetes must take balanced diets, practice regular exercise, and take the right medication to control the amount of glucose in their blood. Practicing routine self-checks for blood sugar levels helps in maintaining them at an appropriate level.
Keep Your Legs Dry
Ensure that you dry your legs carefully, especially in between the toes to prevent the skin from cracking, which leads to infection. You should never put on wet socks, and in case you notice that your shoes are becoming sweaty, remove them immediately. Using moisturizers is recommended to prevent drying and cracking of skin on other parts of your feet and not the spaces between toes.
Choose the Right Foot Wear
The shoes you choose to wear during the winter season should have enough space, which prevents constriction of blood flow in the feet. They should also provide enough warmth and protect your feet from the snow. Also, ensure that you wear the right material of socks.
Specialists recommend woolen socks because they provide sufficient heat to the feet. Wearing shoes that do not allow air circulation, and having wet feet increases your chances of having foot ulcers. There are specialty stores where you can find shoes and socks made specifically for people with diabetes.
Quit Habits like Smoking
Smoking participates significantly in reducing blood circulation in your feet. This happens through damage and constriction of blood vessels, preventing the flow of blood in the feet.
Schedule Regular Appointments with Your Podiatrist
Buying foot products from shops can be regrettable because they may cause your skin to itch or suffer other discomforts, hence increasing your vulnerability to having an infection. Therefore, it is essential that while seeking diabetes healthcare, you involve a podiatrist.
Podiatrists are doctors who specialize in foot care, and scheduling them for regular appointments can help prevent the growth of simple calluses into severe complications.
Avoid Walking on BareFoot
Most people only wear shoes to protect their feet when walking outside the house. It’s advisable that you do the same even indoors. This will protect you from injuries that can be caused by glass shards or other misplaced objects. And because of the damaged nerves, you will not feel the severe impact of these objects.
