Foot Health Guide - Diabetic Feet

Diabetic feet need extra care and attention, mainly because people of diabetes show to have a diminished sensation or the inability to feel pain especially in the feet. Special care and attention to diabetic feet is absolutely essential.

Diabetes can result in many foot ailments. If you are diagnosed with diabetes you must see your physician on a regular basis, and contact him(her) immediately if your foot or feet become swollen, painful, red or infected.

Why must diabetics pay particular attention to feet?

Because a person with diabetes also exhibits a state of diminshed sensation - the inability to experience the full intensity of pain - he or she is more likely to serious conditions from things as simple as overlooking a small stone in a shoe that irritates, rubs the foot open and develops into an infection.

Diabetics are also at greater risk to Peripheral Vascular Disease, or poor circulation leading to ulcers, infections and other serious foot conditions.

What can a diabetic do to avoid foot infections?

           Care of Diabetic Feet:

• Inspect your feet daily for blisters, bleeding and lesions between the toes
• Use a mirror to examine the bottom of your feet as wellWear therapeutic footwear, including specially made diabetes socks, slippers, insoles, orthotics and other diabetic footwear
• Wear high and wide toe box shoes
• Wear footwear that fits well and protects your feet
• Wear conforming removable insoles in your footwear
• Wear seamless diabetes socks and stockings to keep moisture away from your feet
• Use diabetic foot creams – just not between the toes
• Use bed cradles to reduce the weight of heavy bedding on your diabetic foot
• Wash your feet daily with warm, soapy water and dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes
• Trim your toenails carefully, straight across, and do not gouge into the corners

If you have diabetes

• DO NOT soak your feet in water especially hot water, for long periods of time
• DO NOT use hotwater bottles of heating pads on your feet.
• DO NOT use acids or chemical corn removers on your feet
• DO NOT try to remove corns, calluses or ingrown toenails yourself - you risk injury and then infection
• DO NOT smoke

Contact a physicial immediately if your foot becomes swollen, painful, red or infected.

Information on foot pain, leg and lower body health conditions taken from FootSmart.com and provided by The Podiatry Institute, dedicated to advancing the standard of care in podiatric medicine and its effects on muscoskeletal health.


    

The Comfort Shoe Store is affiliated with FootSmart.com Experts in keeping feet moving in comfort