People with diabetes may encounter many different issues while trying to manage this condition. For example, high blood storage levels can cause damage to the nervous system, resulting in neuropathy. The most common type of neuropathy in people with diabetes affects their arms and legs.
In 70% of people with diabetes, neuropathy leads to the loss of feeling in your hands and feet. Unfortunately, due to this numbness, you’re more prone to harmful infections, bunions, blisters, and even injuries. After all, if you can’t feel that part of your body, how can you tell if something is wrong?
But, with a few simple rules, you can protect your feet in the long run. Some minor lifestyle changes can keep your feet healthy and strong for years to come.
1. Inspect Your Feet Every Day
Because of neuropathy, it’ll be hard to feel any changes on your feet. Therefore, you must conduct a regular inspection that’ll take no more than 5 minutes of your time. Start by feeling the quality of your skin. If you notice that the skin on your feet is too uneven and cracked, it might be an indicator of dryness. Then, check for any color changes or sores. If you notice any significant difference, you should consult with your doctor as soon as possible.
Some people look for pictures of diabetic feet and then compare them to their own. Although this method isn’t entirely wrong, you must understand that each case of diabetes is different. Not every diabetic foot symptoms are the same, nor are they in the same phase. Diabetic feet pictures beginning stages will differ from more advanced stages.
So steer clear from comparing yourself with other cases. You can take a picture of your own early diabetes feet and use it for comparison during your routine inspection.
2. Stay Away From Water That Is Too Hot or Too Cold
Early signs of diabetic feet can include better tolerance to water that is too hot or too cold for any individual man or woman. However, this isn’t tolerance. But the lack of feeling in your feet or hands. That doesn’t mean that the skin on these body parts doesn’t get damaged in the process. So if you suffer from diabetic feet, it would be best to avoid water that is too hot or too cold.
3. Use Proper Footwear and Diabetic Socks
One of the many lifestyle changes that come with diabetes is shoe shopping. You should remember to look for shoes with the right top and bottom coverage for your next shopping spree. Also, seams inside the shoe that can damage your skin are a no-go.
Likewise, consider getting diabetic socks. These specialized socks improve blood circulation, keep your feet warm, and lower the risk of injury for people with diabetic feet.
4. Use Proper Footwear
Wearing proper shoes and diabetic socks are essential for both outdoors and indoors. Avoid going barefoot because even inside the house, you can hurt your feet with small bruises and cuts. You might not notice them, and they can lead to severe infections.
5. Keep Your Feet Dry
As a part of your everyday hygiene routine, make sure that your feet are completely dry. Wipe your feet with a dry towel after every shower, not forgetting the space between your toes. Over time skin can get too moist, which can cause an infection.
6. Don’t Forget To Moisturize
Even though you have to make sure that your feet are dry, that doesn’t mean you should moisturize your skin. Applying a moisturizer will improve the quality of the skin on your feet and prevent it from breaking. A proper diabetic foot treatment includes moisturizing on a daily level. Also, while you moisturize your feet, you’re performing a light massage that improves blood circulation.
7. Exercise Regularly
With cold weather comes some bad habits, like too much sitting around inside the house. Any person with diabetes needs to exercise regularly. Too much sitting and poor circulation can cause diabetic feet swelling. According to the American Diabetes Association, you should do any physical activity at least 30 minutes per day.
8. Quit Bad Habits
Smoking is harmful to anyone’s health, not only for people with diabetes. This bad habit adds to contracting your blood vessels and deprives your feet of oxygen-rich blood cells. These are necessary to fight off infections. So no matter if you have diabetes or not, it’s never a bad time to quit smoking.
9. Have Your Toenails Clipped By a Professional
Most people wonder, “what does diabetic foot pain feel like?” And even though there’re those with numbness in their feet and hands, there are people who feel sharp pain. That’s called diabetic nerve pain, and it can spread over your arms and legs. Over time, this type of diabetic foot symptom can cause depression in people and decrease life quality.
People with these symptoms usually forget to look after themselves. And proper hygiene and regular monitoring of your feet are crucial in keeping them healthy. Another important step towards that goal is proper nail clipping.
People with diabetes are prone to infection. Open wounds on your feet are the perfect ground for the transfer of bacteria. Always disinfect your nail clipper before using it, or turn to a professional who can clip your toenails for you.
10. Eat Healthy
Be mindful of what you eat. Consult with a doctor and ask for a diet that is best suited for your condition. A good diet means a better life in different ways. You will never feel bloated or gain too much weight, which means less pressure on your feet. With a proper diet, you can improve blood circulation, which is essential for diabetic foot treatment.
We Are Here To Help
Diabetic socks are just one step in the right direction. Give your feet the treatment they deserve by getting high-quality Viasox for diabetic feet. Take a look at our product selection and find the one that suits you the most.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us, and we’ll be glad to respond and help out in any way that we can!
