Diabetes can be a very damaging disease when not managed diligently and effectively, and you might be surprised to learn that this can affect your whole body- from your head right down to your toes, literally! Your feet get the rough end of it day in day out carrying your body around, but when you throw a disease into the mix, it is vital that your feet get the proper care.
This piece will offer you some practical advice and tips on how you can protect your feet if you have diabetes. Read on to find out more.
Spot the Signs
Spotting the signs of diabetic feet is important to prevent anything from getting worse. You might find that you do not feel pain as well as you have done previously; Cuts, scrapes, and blisters might not heal completely or take much longer to heal, and the skin on your feet becomes incredibly dry. Your feet might also change shape, and you might find that you have pain that travels up the body when engaging in physical activity.
If the smaller signs worsen, you could find yourself with irreparable nerve damage, your feet could be faced with less circulation, which can cut off blood supply, and it can also mean that you end up with chronic foot injuries and deformation.
Worst case scenario – you could lose your foot – or even more, if you develop an infection that rapidly spreads. If any of these ring any alarm bells, be sure to see a doctor asap, especially if you are facing other diabetes symptoms.
Check Your Feet Everyday
It is common to get foot injuries or wounds from time to time, as feet do a lot of the work for us! That being said, if they are left to rest, and you notice your wounds are not healing properly, it is time to see a doctor. This is especially important if you have limited feeling in your feet, as you will not always be ‘alerted’ that there is something wrong if you cannot feel it! If you are not sure about something, definitely get a professional opinion from a podiatrist.
Watch Your Sugar Intake
Obviously, it is crucial to watch your sugar intake for your overall health, especially when you have diabetes. Having an elevated blood glucose level causes most of the diabetes damage, so make sure to keep it in check to keep all of your body healthy and functioning as best it can.
Get Exercising
We all know how important exercising is, and improved circulation is just one of the many benefits you can enjoy when you exercise an adequate amount to keep everything in shape.
Exercise is great in preventing an abundance of issues, but if you are already experiencing some diabetes side effects such as nerve damage or pain, be sure to chat to your doctor about this, so you do not do any further damage. Take it easy, and keep that blood pumping around your body!
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
