How To Protect Your Legs and Feet If You Have Diabetes

If you suffer from diabetes, you may face issues concerning your legs and feet, two most common complexities of the disease. If you are diabetic, you may be prone to corns, calluses, bunions, ulcers and blisters  and increased blood sugar means minor alterations and injuries may cause disabling infections.

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Inspect your feet daily for wounds, cracks, and sores:

Nerve damage is a diabetic complication which makes it difficult to feel when you are suffering from cracks or sores in your feet. It is important to place a mirror to have a look under the feet or ask relatives or friends for assistance if you are unable to see your feet properly.

Never make use of your feet for testing hot water

When those suffering from diabetes suffer neuropathy or nerve damage, they may have a hard time telling if the water is hot. They may not realize that they are burning their skin. Stepping inside a bath before being sure of the temperature may lead to serious damage to the feet, since blisters and burns can cause infection. Make use of your elbow for checking the temperature before you get inside the shower.

Always wear diabetes-friendly socks and footwear

People suffering from diabetes need to put more attention when shoe shopping. It is best to look for shoes that offer good coverage of the bottom and top, more depth in the toe area, and without seams within the shoe. Similarly, wear socks that have no seams, padded socks made out of cotton.

Never Go Barefoot, whether you are outside or inside

When you putter around with no shoes inside or outside the house, you put yourself at risk of scrapes, cuts, and penetration by glass shards, and splinters. Make sure you wear shoes at all times, no matter what.

Keep the feet dry for decreasing infection

It is important to dry your feet every time they get wet. The area between your toes is extremely airtight. Moist skin breaks down, causing infection. You can prevent this by thoroughly towelling off after washing the feet and getting sweaty or wet shoes and socks immediately. You may, however, use moisturizer for preventing cracked or dry skin— just dont use it between the toes.

See a doctor on a regular basis for treating foot problems

Even the most harmless calluses may get troublesome if you keep ignoring them. When you build your diabetes healthcare team, make sure you include a doctor or podiatrist, instead of going straight to a pharmacy for treatment — some over the counter products are not good for the skin and may actually enhance the risk of getting infection even when they treat the callus, bunion, or corn.

Your podiatrist and your healthcare team are the best sources of help and information if you are looking for ideas for taking good care of your feet. Also, in case you see any changes to your feet that are concerning, it is best to see a doctor.