Diabetics And Feet: Your Next Steps After Being Diagnosed
Posted on: 4 February 2015
So, your doctor just diagnosed you with diabetes. If you've never had a family member with diabetes, and have no idea what the future may hold, then it can be be very frightening. However, taking care of yourself doesn't have to be as hard as you think. When it comes to your feet, the problems that you may encounter are very similar to the problems that individuals that have not been diagnosed with diabetes have.
The only difference is that your feet are more likely to develop the problems and it will be more difficult to recover. However, with the right steps, you can keep your feet healthy:
1. Make Sure to Look at Your Feet on a Daily Basis
Due to the fact that high blood glucose levels can create blood vessel and nerve problems, it is important to inspect your feet regularly. Nerve damage will be painful at the beginning and will eventually cause you to lose feeling. If you notice that your feet are tingling or burning and there are deformities, such as bunions and hammertoes, then it is time to schedule an appointment with your podiatrist to hopefully treat the potential nueropathy before it gets too bad.
2. Take the Time to Exercise
You don't have to go full out with exercise, but it is important to keep the blood flowing throughout your body. This will help reduce diabetic complications while also helping to keep your heart healthy. The key to exercising and taking care of your feet at the same time is to wear the proper footwear. Make sure your shoes fit well, offer arch support and have breathable uppers so that your feet stay dry.
3. Keep Your Feet Warm and Dry
The last thing you want to allow your feet to do is become extremely wet or cold. At the same time, you don't want you feet to get too hot either because sweat will create an optimal environment for bacteria growth.
You may want to consider orthopedic house slippers and shoes to wick away moisture while keeping your feet comfortable. You should also consult with your podiatrist about diabetic socks, which can help reduce pressure points, minimize irritations and protect your feet from damage.
Being diagnosed with diabetes can be scary, but with the help of your podiatrist, you can develop a preventative care plan that will help keep your feet healthy from the beginning. Your podiatrist can also help you select the most appropriate diabetic foot care products so that you don't have to tackle that task all by yourself.
To learn more, contact a company like Foot & Ankle Care Center PA with any questions you have.
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