Do You have Diabetes? Take Care of Your Feet!

Diabetes can be serious, and it is important to understand and know how to care for yourself. 

How can Diabetes affect you?  When your body does not process sugar as it should, excess sugar in the blood can affect your nerves, which reduces blood circulation.  When your blood does not circulate as it should, the damage to your nerves causes the normal healing process to slow, which increases the risk of infection.  This can also cause loss of feeling in the feet, which is called peripheral neuropathy – and with the loss of feeling in the foot, you may not realize that you have minor blisters or cuts. Keeping your feet moisturized will also help minimize having dry or cracked feet, all of which can lead to more serious problems. 

If you or someone you know suffers from Diabetes, it’s important to know how to take care of your feet, to minimize the risk of infection. 

Washing your feet daily, checking for blisters, cuts, and other injuries, as well as wearing proper footwear is crucial. Diabetics who ignore minor foot infections and neglect treatment, it can be a limb-threatening condition.

 

Additional Tips for Diabetic Foot Care

  • Never Go Barefoot
    • As we discussed above, diabetes can damage the nerve and can lose the feeling in your feet. Going barefoot at home, not only puts you at risk of injury to your feet, but the poor circulation can also weaken your skin in your soles, heels and toes and could contribute to foot ulcers and prevent wound healing.
  • Toenail Care
    • The most important step in the foot care routine is to cut toenails; don't trim too short; cut them straight across, and even sharp edges with a nail file to prevent the toenail from hurting your skin.
  • Wash Your Feet Daily
    • Wash your feet daily with lukewarm water to prevent infection. An infected sore on the bottom of your foot is one of the most common and serious complications of diabetes. In addition, the infection can spread rapidly to other body parts that are prone to infection, including the heart and even the brain.
    • Be sure to dry between your toes! This is a perfect place for fungus begin. 
    • Make sure you keep your feet moisturized after washing. This will keep your feet from becoming dry and cracked, which can increase the risk of infection.  However, do NOT apply moisturizer between your toes.
  • Stop Smoking
    • Diabetics should stop smoking to reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease. Smoking is a significant cause of death among people with diabetes, and it increases risk factors such as hypertension and dyslipidemia. By quitting smoking, it will improve health by reducing blood pressure and increasing HDL - the good cholesterol.
  • Wear Proper Footwear
    • Diabetics should wear proper footwear to prevent foot ulcers and ensure healthy blood flow. Researchers found that wearing footwear such as flip-flops can increase infection risk and reduce blood circulation to toes and feet. According to Dr. Randi Hanssen, lead author of the research: "The body requires adequate pressure to stimulate blood flow on the soles of the feet and to ensure that areas such as arteries and nerves are healthy.
  • Examine Your Feet Daily
    • Your feet are one of the most important parts of our body, and we often ignore looking over them while washing hair, cleaning the skin, and other things. People with diabetes should examine their feet daily. There may be wounds or sores on the feet, that are covered by socks or shoes.  If they are not caught, it can cause serious infections and wounds.

Final Words 

Most Diabetics suffer from serious foot conditions. The best way to stop foot problems is to take care of them at home and go to the doctor regularly to prevent small problems from becoming serious. You should be examined more frequently if you have been suffering from foot problems for years. The doctor will check your feet at every visit and do detailed foot checkups once a year. 

At MikTu Naturals we also know the importance of skin care.  Whether you suffer from a medical condition such as Diabetes, forms of skin irritations or hair concerns, we have a full line of products that have you covered!  Be sure to reach out to us and we can help you find relief!