Diabetes is associated with a number of complications. Diabetic foot is a term that describes a complication of diabetes caused by cardiovascular and neurological damage in the lower limbs. A reduction in sensation of the feet predisposes persons with diabetes to frequent injuries. Poor blood supply complicates the problem further since the healing of these wounds is significantly delayed and they develop into chronic ulcers. There are a number of things on diabetic foot care Scottsdale residents should know.
Since the root cause of the problem is elevated blood sugar, the starting point should be to ensure that sugar levels are maintained within the normal range. It is important that you take your oral hypoglycemic drugs or insulin as prescribed by your doctor. Monitor the blood glucose levels regularly to determine whether the drugs are effective. Appointments with your general practitioner or endocrinologist should be honored as they provide an opportunity to evaluate the progress from time to time.
Persons suffering from diabetes need to inspect their feet daily. The reduced sensation may mean that you will not be aware of cuts, bruises or burn injuries until they have become infected. The regular inspection will help one identify the injuries early enough so that treatment can be initiated in timely fashion. You may need to use a magnifying mirror to inspect the bottom of the feet.
For persons that already have wounds on their feet, treatment with the right antibiotics is needed. Oral antibiotics are usually sufficient for most cases. Admission to wound care centers may be needed in cases where the infection is extensive. In such centers a multidisciplinary approach that involves physicians, surgeons, nutritionists and nurses is adopted. Dead tissues have to be debrided (surgically removed) and the wound covered with special dressings so as to facilitate faster healing.
Ill-fitting shoes have been identified as a common cause of complications among persons with diabetes. Ensure that you have shoes that do not exert excessive pressure on your feet as this will increase the chances of ulcer formation. Visit a podiatrist (foot doctor) to help you in choosing the right shoe type for your case. This is especially important for persons that already have problems such as hammer toes, bunions and flat feet.
Ensure that your feet are well moisturized to avoid cracking. Even as you do this, dry the area between your toes completely to keep fungal infections at bay. Putting on socks not only protects the feet from injury but also helps maintain the moisture. Make sure that the socks are clean, dry and well fitting. If too tight, they may interfere with circulation. Change them on a daily basis.
There are a number of lifestyle changes that you can undertake. Regular exercise is among them. The exercise will help improve circulation in the lower limbs and will also lower sugar levels. Cessation of smoking is another important measure. This is because nicotine is one of the major components of tobacco. It has an inhibitory effect on wound healing and may increase the risk of non-healing ulcers.
Diabetic feet are a difficult condition to treat. For this reason, a lot of emphasis should be placed on prevention. There is a need to conduct self examination on a daily basis so as to identify any injuries early. Have your doctor examine the feet on a regular basis as well so that they can initiate treatment as soon as problems are identified.
Since the root cause of the problem is elevated blood sugar, the starting point should be to ensure that sugar levels are maintained within the normal range. It is important that you take your oral hypoglycemic drugs or insulin as prescribed by your doctor. Monitor the blood glucose levels regularly to determine whether the drugs are effective. Appointments with your general practitioner or endocrinologist should be honored as they provide an opportunity to evaluate the progress from time to time.
Persons suffering from diabetes need to inspect their feet daily. The reduced sensation may mean that you will not be aware of cuts, bruises or burn injuries until they have become infected. The regular inspection will help one identify the injuries early enough so that treatment can be initiated in timely fashion. You may need to use a magnifying mirror to inspect the bottom of the feet.
For persons that already have wounds on their feet, treatment with the right antibiotics is needed. Oral antibiotics are usually sufficient for most cases. Admission to wound care centers may be needed in cases where the infection is extensive. In such centers a multidisciplinary approach that involves physicians, surgeons, nutritionists and nurses is adopted. Dead tissues have to be debrided (surgically removed) and the wound covered with special dressings so as to facilitate faster healing.
Ill-fitting shoes have been identified as a common cause of complications among persons with diabetes. Ensure that you have shoes that do not exert excessive pressure on your feet as this will increase the chances of ulcer formation. Visit a podiatrist (foot doctor) to help you in choosing the right shoe type for your case. This is especially important for persons that already have problems such as hammer toes, bunions and flat feet.
Ensure that your feet are well moisturized to avoid cracking. Even as you do this, dry the area between your toes completely to keep fungal infections at bay. Putting on socks not only protects the feet from injury but also helps maintain the moisture. Make sure that the socks are clean, dry and well fitting. If too tight, they may interfere with circulation. Change them on a daily basis.
There are a number of lifestyle changes that you can undertake. Regular exercise is among them. The exercise will help improve circulation in the lower limbs and will also lower sugar levels. Cessation of smoking is another important measure. This is because nicotine is one of the major components of tobacco. It has an inhibitory effect on wound healing and may increase the risk of non-healing ulcers.
Diabetic feet are a difficult condition to treat. For this reason, a lot of emphasis should be placed on prevention. There is a need to conduct self examination on a daily basis so as to identify any injuries early. Have your doctor examine the feet on a regular basis as well so that they can initiate treatment as soon as problems are identified.
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