Diabetic patients are at high risk for complications of diabetes that affect the feet and can lead to the need for amputation. Daily diabetic foot care helps prevent serious foot health problems.
One of the most critical parts of diabetic foot care is the daily inspection of the feet. Diabetes causes nerve damage to the feet and other parts of the body. This nerve damage is a complication of diabetes called diabetic neuropathy.
If a person with diabetes sustains an injury to the foot, the diabetic patient may not feel the injury due to diabetic neuropathy. If the sore goes undetected, it could become infected.
Infection is made worse if the diabetic patient has circulatory problems that are a common complication of diabetes. The compromised circulatory system fails to deliver white blood cells to the sore which would fight infection naturally. Therefore, sores that do not get medical attention are at high risk of infection and can pose serious problems and even develop gangrene.
Any sores on the feet should be promptly reported to the physician. Neglecting to seek medical treatment can lead to serious infection and gangrene which often leads to the need for amputation.
Along with daily inspection, the feet should be cleaned with warm water daily. After the feet are washed, the feet need to be dried thoroughly.
If there is dry skin on the feet, the skin could crack and cause sores. The sores can become infected. Dry skin on the feet should be treated with moisturizer, but moisturizer should never be applied between the toes.
Calluses, warts, and corns should not be treated with home treatments or over the counter removers. It is much safer for the diabetic patient to consult a physician for any foot problems.
The toenails should never be cut too short as this could lead to ingrown toenails. The sores caused by ingrown toenails could become infected.
One of the most critical parts of diabetic foot care is the daily inspection of the feet. Diabetes causes nerve damage to the feet and other parts of the body. This nerve damage is a complication of diabetes called diabetic neuropathy.
If a person with diabetes sustains an injury to the foot, the diabetic patient may not feel the injury due to diabetic neuropathy. If the sore goes undetected, it could become infected.
Infection is made worse if the diabetic patient has circulatory problems that are a common complication of diabetes. The compromised circulatory system fails to deliver white blood cells to the sore which would fight infection naturally. Therefore, sores that do not get medical attention are at high risk of infection and can pose serious problems and even develop gangrene.
Any sores on the feet should be promptly reported to the physician. Neglecting to seek medical treatment can lead to serious infection and gangrene which often leads to the need for amputation.
Along with daily inspection, the feet should be cleaned with warm water daily. After the feet are washed, the feet need to be dried thoroughly.
If there is dry skin on the feet, the skin could crack and cause sores. The sores can become infected. Dry skin on the feet should be treated with moisturizer, but moisturizer should never be applied between the toes.
Calluses, warts, and corns should not be treated with home treatments or over the counter removers. It is much safer for the diabetic patient to consult a physician for any foot problems.
The toenails should never be cut too short as this could lead to ingrown toenails. The sores caused by ingrown toenails could become infected.
About the Author:
Do your feet a favor by looking into your diabetic foot care if you are foot having problems. And please seek any podiatrist for help if you have any unknown foot pain. We have a free forum full of podiatrists, that give free foot health advice.
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