People living with diabetes need to make foot care a priority. As someone who has been diagnosed with the medical condition, you will be at a greater risk of developing foot injuries and infections. Diabetes makes it harder to heal from foot infections and to feel them forming, due to symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.
Neglecting proper foot care can lead to severe infections that require intensive medical intervention. At worst, you could require amputation as a health and safety measure.
Check Your Feet Every Day
One of the essentials of diabetic foot care that you should practice is a daily inspection of your feet. If you can’t easily reach your feet and see the bottoms, either use a mirror to help you see different angles or have someone you trust to do it for you. What you’re trying to do is look for any vulnerabilities that could turn into medical problems in the near future:
For example, an ingrown toenail can lead to a nail infection that doesn’t heal, putting your health at risk. If you spot an ingrown, make an appointment for an ingrown toenail removal with a chiropodist at Feet First Clinic. When you have diabetes, doing an at-home removal could be a big mistake.
Click here to learn about common foot conditions that you should look out for during your routine inspections. By catching them ahead of time, you can guarantee that the professionals solve the problems quickly and keep your feet in good shape.
Exercise
According to Harvard Medical School, exercise is good for diabetes because it can regulate your blood sugar and improve your body’s reaction to insulin. Routine exercise will contribute to other health benefits that could minimize symptoms. It will lower harmful cholesterol, raise healthy cholesterol, strengthen muscle and reduce anxiety.
Slowly incorporate physical activities into your daily routine. Jumping into an intense workout could be overwhelming. You should take several safety precautions before grabbing your gym shoes:
- Test your blood sugar before a workout. If it’s too high, don’t exercise. If it’s too low, have a small snack and wait for it to reach a stable level.
- Pack small snacks in your bag, just in case.
- Let the gym staff know you have diabetes.
- Wear a medical alert bracelet.
Wear Compression Socks
Poor blood circulation can lead to problems with the legs, as well as with your feet. One condition that you need to be aware of is varicose veins — these are veins with ineffective valves that become swollen and protrude from the body. They can often be uncomfortable or painful to deal with.
Varicose veins should be concerning for people living with diabetes because they can rupture or turn into varicose ulcers. Instead of dealing with the consequences, you can get compression hosiery to control swelling, improve circulation, and prevent further progression of the condition. The hosiery compresses the limb, reducing the diameter of any distended veins and encouraging blood flow back to the heart.
Come to your local Toronto foot care clinic to get pairs of compression stockings in different styles for casual everyday wear and active wear.
Making these changes may feel like a lot of effort at first, but soon enough, they will be fully incorporated into your routine. Doing your foot inspections, putting on your compression stockings and planning your workouts will become second nature to you. In the first few weeks of committing to these changes, remind yourself that they are vital for your long-term health and well-being.
