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The condition known as diabetic foot comes as a result of
diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage due to prolonged high blood
sugar. This nerve damage doesn’t allow you to feel pain. While that
might sound like a good thing, it is actually very dangerous. The
nerve damage itself can be painful, but it is not severe pain. The
worst of the problems comes when there is a cut or puncture wound to
the foot and because it doesn’t hurt, it goes uncared for.
Another problem with this condition can arise from something as
simple as a blister. Again, you don’t feel the blister so you don’t
treat it. It can get infected and, because of your diabetes, it is
slow to heal, giving it more time for the infection to spread. This
increased risk of infection can be partially blamed on the diabetes’
affect on the white blood cells, the ones that fight infection.
Diabetes slows down the activity of these cells and infections are
harder to fight.
People with diabetes also have poor circulation. Diabetes can
cause arteries to harden and become blocked, which keeps blood from
getting to the affected area. Without the nutrients, oxygen and even
medication that the blood carries, wounds and infections are slower
to heal. Some people with diabetes also have blurred vision, making
seeing the smaller scrapes and cuts difficult to see. Excess weight
also keeps a person from being able to inspect feet properly.
There are steps to take to make sure diabetic foot does not
happen to you. Properly fitting shoes are very important. Clean, dry
socks with no holes or rough seams to irritate or rub are important,
too. Check, or have your feet checked, daily, making sure to inspect
these 6 major hotspots: the tip of the big toe, base of the little
toes, base of the middle toes, the heel, along the edges of the
soles and the ball of the foot. Make sure you can feel a touch in
all of these areas, too. Keep your feet clean, wear shoes and socks
all of the time, making sure to keep your feet protected while you
are inside, too.
Other tips include taking care when trimming toenails, cut
straight across the nail, not into cuticle. Keep tops and bottoms of
feet moisturized, but not between the toes, you do not want to cause
any fungal growth with excess moisture. See a podiatrist regularly.
There is financial assistance available if your doctor prescribes
diabetic shoes or socks for you to wear.
Taking care of your feet when you have diabetes is very
important. Too many people with diabetes end up having amputations
done for diabetic foot where diligent care could have prevented such
drastic measures.
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