How to take care of your feet with diabetes

Many patients with diabetes are at risk of foot and toenail damage with manifestations such as: deformity, ulceration, even necrosis of the toes,... If there is no treatment and Proper foot care for diabetics increases the risk of disability and amputation.

Due to nerve damage, diabetes can cause foot ulcers and many other dangerous complications. Causes of foot ulcers in diabetics include:
Peripheral nerve damage can occur in any person with diabetes. This complication reduces the ability to feel sensations in the foot such as pain, heat, and cold. Therefore, the patient cannot feel his foot has been damaged. This condition will cause foot infections for a long time, making treatment more difficult and expensive. Diabetic foot ulcers are common on the ends of the metatarsals, big toes, heels, or calluses on the feet and between the toes. Diabetics can have blood vessel damage that leads to atherosclerosis, which blocks blood vessels from circulating to organs in the body. In particular, the blood supply to the feet is also limited. This is also the reason why foot wounds take longer to heal. Diabetic foot infections are always higher in diabetics than in the general population. The reason is that bacteria easily invade and grow when blood sugar levels are high. Reduced blood flow to the feet slows healing and increases the risk of infection. Calluses are a common symptom in patients with diabetes at any stage. This is a leading cause of foot ulcers.
SEE ALSO: Foot pathology in people with diabetes

People with diabetes can prevent complications for their feet if they are cared for and checked regularly. Here are some measures recommended by experts to help patients protect their diabetic feet and toenails and avoid diabetic foot infections:

The patient chooses a suitable soap and washes his feet with warm water. You should not use a towel to rub your feet dry, but pat your skin dry naturally. Then, apply lotion on your feet to prevent chapping.

As mentioned above, complications of diabetes prevent you from feeling sensation in your feet. Therefore, if there are any scratches or bleeding, you will hardly notice. A comprehensive foot examination every day will help you detect early foot injuries (if any).

Feet may develop blisters, cuts, scrapes or sores. Diabetics should be aware of regularly checking and assessing the extent of these wounds.

Experts recommend cutting your toenails only after bathing. Because then, the toenails will be soft and easy to cut. Trim toenails straight horizontally, then smooth with a nail file. Avoid cutting into the corners of your toes or cutting into the skin.

You absolutely do not exercise when you have open wounds on your feet. If your feet are normal, you can still run and exercise with a comfortable pair of shoes.
SEE ALSO: How to take care of diabetic feet

You may be at increased risk of foot wound infection or injury by walking barefoot. Therefore, you should not go barefoot. Always protect your feet with shoes, sandals or similar footwear. Wearing shoes/boots will help protect your feet from weather conditions such as cold and humidity.
Besides, you also pay attention not to wear shoes with high heels and pointed toes, because it can cause more serious foot and toe damage. At the same time, patients need to change socks daily, avoid wearing tight socks.

People with diabetes should wear shoes with the following elements:
Closed toes and heels; Outsole made of hard materials; Leather nose with no internal seams; The inside of the shoe is soft, no rough areas

Cuts, bumps, sores and burns can be small but if not treated properly can cause many dangerous complications. Therefore, people with diabetes should absolutely not self-treat at home, but should see a doctor to check.
Finally, when symptoms such as: cracks between the toes, ingrown toenails, calluses, the middle joint of the toes is permanently bent downwards... then diabetics should also go to the doctor. medical center for examination and treatment, limiting the dangerous complications caused by diabetes.

Reference source: webmd.com