A Variety of Shoes
Diabetic Foot Care Basics
Tessa Jean
In addition to consistently monitoring their blood sugar levels, patients with diabetes also need to pay special attention to their feet. Consistently high blood sugar levels can damage nerves, particularly the nerves in the feet, resulting in a condition called peripheral neuropathy. Suffering from peripheral neuropathy can make it difficult to notice a cut on your foot or that you have an ingrown toe nail.
Properly caring for their feet is critical for individuals living with diabetes. Here are a few diabetic foot care basics.
Keep Your Feet Clean and Dry
Check your feet daily for sores, scratches, or signs of decreased blood flow, including discoloration on the toes. Wash your feet daily with mild soap, and dry them well to prevent infections from spreading. Wear a clean pair of socks every day. Choose socks that are made from breathable fabrics, such as cotton.
Rotate your shoes to avoid wearing the same pair every day. This allows your shoes to dry out and helps prevent the spread of bacteria and fungus.
Care for Corns, Calluses, and Your Toenails
If you notice a corn or callus on your foot, care for them properly to avoid an infection. Use a soft pumice stone to gently grind down your corns and calluses. If you accidentally cause irritation or break the skin, treat the would with an antibiotic ointment, and cover it with a plastic bandage.
Trim your toenails often with clean toenail clippers. Clean the clippers with an alcohol wipe before trimming the nails straight across. Do not allow the nails to curve at the ends, as this can lead to ingrown toenails.
Maintain Proper Blood Flow to Your Feet
Diabetic neuropathy inhibits blood flow to your feet, which can make it difficult for your feet to heal properly. There are several simple ways you can help maintain and improve blood flow to your feet. Avoid wearing tight socks or shoes. In addition to inhibiting blood flow, ill-fitting shoes can lead to blisters.
Whenever possible, keep your feet elevated. If you're sitting down for long periods of time, remember to wiggle your toes and move your feet periodically. Stand up and walk around to get the blood flowing to your extremities. Avoid smoking, as tobacco and the other products found in cigarettes can inhibit blood flow.
Properly caring for their feet is integral for patients living with diabetes, especially those who are in danger of developing peripheral neuropathy or are already suffering from this condition. For more information, see a foot specialist.
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Growing up, I was never very interested in buying a large quantity of shoes to pair with my outfits. I rarely owned more than five or six pairs of shoes at any given time. I usually wore either my favorite pair of sneakers, boots, flats, or heels everywhere I went. When I married my amazing husband ten years ago, my shoe closet expanded. My generous spouse encouraged me to buy some several pairs of cute shoes to match my clothing. After shopping for new shoes, I was hooked. Now, I rarely wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row. Thankfully, I’ve learned that wearing a different type of shoe each day is good for my foot health. On this blog, you will discover the most important benefits of wearing a different kind of shoe every day of the week.