Diabetic Foot Care – Sarasota Podiatrist
According to the American Diabetes Association, about 15.7 million people (5.9 percent of the United States population) have diabetes. Nervous system damage (also known as neuropathy) affects about 60 to 70 percent of men and women with diabetes and is a main complication that may cause diabetics to lose feeling in their feet or hands.
Foot difficulties are a huge risk in diabetics. Diabetics should continually monitor their feet or face severe consequences, which includes amputation.
With a diabetic foot, a wound as little as a blister from wearing a shoe that’s too tight can trigger a lot of damage. Diabetes decreases blood flow, so injuries are slow to heal. When your wound is not healing, it’s at risk for infection. As a diabetic, your infections spread swiftly. If you have diabetes, you really should inspect your feet each and every day. Look for puncture wounds, bruises, pressure areas, redness, warmth, blisters, ulcers, scratches, cuts and nail problems. Get an individual to help you, or use a mirror.
Here’s some basic advice for taking care of your feet:
* Often keep your feet warm.
* Don’t get your feet wet in snow or rain.
* Do not put your feet on radiators or in front of the fireplace.
* Don’t smoke or sit cross-legged. Both decrease blood supply to your feet.
* Do not soak your feet.
* Do not use antiseptic solutions, drugstore medications, heating pads or sharp instruments on your feet.
* Trim your toenails straight across. Steer clear of cutting the corners. Use a nail file or emery board. If you locate an ingrown toenail, contact our office.
* Use top quality lotion to maintain the skin of your feet soft and moist, but do not put any lotion between your toes.
* Wash your feet each day with mild soap and warm water.
* Wear loose socks to bed.
* Wear warm socks and shoes in winter.
* When drying your feet, pat each foot with a towel and be careful between your toes.
* Get shoes that are comfy without a “breaking in” period. Check how your shoe fits in width, length, back, bottom of heel, and sole. Avoid pointed-toe styles and high heels. Try to get shoes made with leather upper material and deep toe boxes. Wear new shoes for only two hours or much less at a time. Don’t wear the same pair everyday. Inspect the inside of every shoe just before putting it on. Don’t lace your shoes too tightly or loosely.
* Select socks and stockings carefully. Wear clean, dry socks each and every day. Avoid socks with holes or wrinkles. Thin cotton socks are far more absorbent for summer wear. Square-toes socks will not squeeze your toes. Keep away from stockings with elastic tops.
When your feet turn into numb, they are at risk for becoming deformed. 1 way this happens is via ulcers. Open sores may possibly become infected. Another way is the bone condition Charcot (pronounced “sharko”) foot. This is 1 of the most serious foot troubles you can face. It warps the shape of your foot when your bones fracture and disintegrate, and yet you continue to walk on it because it doesn’t hurt. Diabetic foot ulcers and early phases of Charcot fractures can be treated with a total contact cast.
Go to our website: http://www.sarasotafootcarecenter.com