Health sense: Taking care of your diabetic feet for a lifetime

Diabetes is a chronic disease that causes the blood-sugar level to be higher than normal. Over time, high blood-sugar levels can damage the nerves, kidneys, eyes and blood vessels.

People with diabetes often worry about their feet, because when the blood vessels are damaged, the blood circulated in the body may not reach some parts of the body, such as the feet.

The damaged nerves also cause them to lose sensation in their feet. When this happens, the diabetic person may find it hard to tell if they have blisters or sores on their feet. These sores may turn into ulcers
or become infected and need medical attention.

In serious cases, the foot may have to be amputated.

Foot self-care is essential for preventing unwanted and potentially serious complications for people with diabetes.

Here are some tips that can help diabetics in caring for their feet.

Wash your feet every day.

Wash your feet in warm, not hot, water. Do not soak your feet for more than five minutes because your skin will get dry.

Dry your feet well. Be sure to dry the spaces between your toes. Use talcum powder to keep the skin between your toes dry.

Keep the skin soft and smooth.Rub a thin coat of skin lotion, cream or Vaseline on the tops and bottoms of your feet.

Do not apply lotion in the area between the toes.

Smooth corns and calluses gently.If you have corns and calluses, check with your doctor or podiatrist about the best way to care for them.

Do not cut corns and calluses. Do not use razor blades, corn plasters or liquid corn and callus removers because they can damage your skin.

Trim your toenails weekly or when needed. Trim toenails straight across and smooth them with an emery board. Do not cut into the corners of the toenails.

If you cannot see well, if your toenails are thick or yellowed, or if your nails curve and grow into the skin, have a pediatrist trim them.

Wear shoes and socks at all times.Always wear shoes and socks. Do not walk barefoot – even indoors – because it is easy to step on something that may hurt your feet.

Choose clean, lightly padded socks that fit well. Socks that have no seams are the best.

Wear shoes and socks that fit and protect your feet well.

Keep the blood flowing to your feet.

Wiggle your toes for five minutes twice or thrice daily. Move your ankles up and down and in and out to improve blood flow in your feet and legs.

Do not smoke. Smoking reduces the flow of blood to the feet. Seek help to stop smoking.

Ask your doctor to help you plan a daily activity program that is right for you.



Articles in this column, which appear every two weeks, are provided by a panel of doctors from www.flyfreeforhealth.com, a leading multimedia medical tourism platform dedicated to providing adopters of healthy lifestyles with travel and lifestyle incentives. The hospitals include Samitivej Hospital, an internationally awarded hospital in Thailand and a service provider of medical tourism in Southeast Asia. Join our free online seminar titled “Choosing the Right Contraception for Women” on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, at 12 noon. Register your email address by SMS to +65 9847 3224 to receive the link invite. Email us at info@flyfreeforhealth.com.