Foot care tips for diabetic patients
Diabetic patients are prone to foot infections. Healing is affected by changes in extremities of blood vessels and decreased circulation. Gangrene development, infection of cuts and sores is common. Often, the limb has to be amputated.
So here are some of the common precautions that can be followed for better feet health:
1. Use a mirror to monitor daily feet infections. Feet have to be inspected daily for redness, blisters, cuts, cracks, swelling and color changes.
2. Wear correct fitting socks and shoes with enough room to wiggle the toes. Check the shoes for presence of foreign objects like gravel that can cause sores.
3. Wash and dry feet and inspect the region between toes on a daily basis.
4. Trim your nails after a bath, cut them straight across and then smoothen the edges using an emery board.
5. Self-treatment of corns, calluses and ingrown toenails should not be done. Always consult a podiatrist.
6. In case of dry skin, apply cream and petroleum jelly to feet and heels avoiding the region between toes. Leaving cream on the cervices can cause waterlogging making the skin more susceptible to infections.
7. Sitting postures that cross the legs limits circulation.
8. Diabetes can cause neuropathy wherein we become unaware of heat in waters leading to burns. Do not use heating pads or hot water bottles. Maintain water baths at 85-90 F or 30-32 C. Prolonged exposure to cold decreases blood circulation.
9. Improve the decreased blood circulation by following a regular exercise routine prescribed by the health care professional.
10. Practice preventive care, be observant and follow up on any possible signs with a suitable physician. Get your feet assessed by your healthcare professional during every visit.