Diabetic foot safety

NATURAL FOOT CARE

Diabetes mellitus is a serious disease that is characterized by the deficit of insulin production in the body. Insulin is a chemical enzyme that is produced by the pancreas to break down and process food components in our body into sustainable energy. The glitch occurs when there is a deficiency in the production of the insulin enzyme or when the human body is unable to use the insulin produced to properly process its food. When this phenomenon occurs, it leads to abnormally high glucose levels in the blood. This could lead to progressive and serious impairment of the immune system and many body organs, especially the eyes, kidneys, legs and feet.

Diabetes can be classified into two different types:

• Type 1
• Type 2.

The Type 1 diabetes is first seen in childhood and has a strong family tendency. Type 2 is the kind which manifests in adulthood. It is caused chiefly by obesity and a poorly controlled and unbalanced diet. It needs to be controlled to prevent serious health complications like neuropathy, nerve damage, glaucoma and renal failure. It can also lead to cardiovascular disease if it is not controlled.

As the disease progresses, the nervous system and the legs and feet are the earliest to be affected. Though it is not curable, it can be well-controlled with proper discipline and care. Therefore it is important to recognize the early symptoms of diabetes before the complications set in. If you have already been diagnosed with diabetes, you need to keep a careful watch on your legs and feet. The following section deals with the common foot problems, their symptoms and preventive measures. Hopefully, by the end of the section you will have a clearer understanding of the importance of foot care to diabetics.

HOW DIABETES AFFECTS YOUR FEET

In the very earliest stages of diabetes it reduces your body's immunity to fight diseases and germs. Thus your ability to fight infection and illness decreases, with the result that you become highly susceptible to infections. Since your feet are the most exposed part of your body, and with the greatest risk of injury, they are the first to be infected in most cases.

Deterioration of the nervous system happens gradually after the onset of diabetes. This leads to your body becoming less receptive and sensitive to touch and other physical sensations. Your feet may lose sensation and become numb. As the sweat and oil glands slowly lose function, your foot skin becomes dry and hardened. The combination of these different effects of nerve damage cause undue pressure to be put on your foot skin, which breaks down, leading to the formation of sores and blisters.

Since your immune system is already impaired, the body's ability to fight these common infections is affected. The healing process takes much longer. This prolonged healing time increases the risk of bacterial and fungal infection setting in and spreading, eventually leading to foot conditions like gangrene. Therefore, care must be taken to prevent such foot infections.

It is very important for diabetic people to be fully aware from the very beginning that such problems are very much possible. You should therefore inspect your whole body every day to recognize the earliest signs of any damage. You should maintain a well-controlled diet to keep your blood sugar level within a normal range. Pay attention to your feet, looking for any wounds, calluses or infections. Also examine the level of sensation on them from time to time. If you identify signs of nerve damage early, you can start early treatment and care too.

There have been enormous advances in the management of the diabetic foot. This will effectively help to reduce pain and inflammation as well as promoting complete healing. There are many natural preventive measures and solutions for diabetic foot care available within your home environment that can be of immense use. However, the first step is to recognize the symptoms correctly.

DIABETIC FOOT SYMPTOMS

1. Constant foot pain could be the result of some unseen bruises, cuts, sprains, blisters (due to ill-fitting shoes) or other injury under your feet. Check your feet thoroughly to locate the cause of your pain. 2. Inflammation or redness in a particular area of your feet. This could be due to friction or abrasions caused by your socks and shoes. It may or may not be painful. 3. Bloating and swelling of your feet. This could happen due to some internal injury, infection or inflammation caused by ill-fitting shoes or other external factors. Poor circulation of blood to your feet could also result in swelling. This swelling may be accompanied by symptoms like pain in the legs and hips, reduced hair growth over the legs, hardening of the skin and difficulty in walking. 4. You could also feel considerable warmth around a wound that could signal the presence of internal inflammation or infection. This may persist for a long time, since healing is slow in diabetes. The wound may or may not heal with time. 5. Open wounds or breaks in the skin could prove to be very dangerous since such wounds could harbor and protect microbes, either fungi or bacteria, which can result in chronic or spreading infections, like athlete's foot, toenail fungus, calluses and corns. 6. If you have a cut in the foot which is accompanied by fever and chills, it might be life-threatening as it could be a sign of the spread of infection into the blood stream. 7. Red streaks radiating from the area of the wound should be taken seriously as this indicates the spreading of infection through the lymph vessels to the neighboring tissues, which could result in severe and deep foot infection. 8. If you don't have any visible wound or sign of infection in your feet but still have difficulty in walking, then the problem area could be your joints and leg muscles. 9. Numbness of the feet is inevitable and progressive in diabetes. This makes it all the more essential that you increase the level of foot care as the years go by, to minimize your risk of feet impairment.

CAUSES OF DIABETIC FOOT

The foot of a diabetic is exposed to many injuries during the course of day-to-day life. These foot injuries may result from external or internal factors. This section discusses some of the significant risk factors that are intricately linked with diabetic foot injury.

Neuropathy - Diabetic neuropathy is a complication of diabetes that shows gradual progression and ultimately affects the functioning of the nervous system. This inevitably leads to diminished sensitivity in the legs due to nerve damage in the feet. This condition is called peripheral neuropathy in medical terms. It is an early complication in poorly controlled diabetes. However, if properly managed, its progression can be delayed. Of the sixteen million Americans who suffer from diabetes, only 25% develop foot problems associated with the disease.

The symptoms of neuropathy in the legs are loss of normal heat, cold and pain sensations in the feet. This means the patient can no longer sense minor injuries like blisters, cuts, pressure sores, feet strain, corns and calluses. These therefore go untreated and can develop into much more severe and deep-seated problems, even ending in amputations. Other less serious outcomes are chronic foot infections like toenail fungus, Charcot feet, bunions and warts. All this underlines how essential it is that a diabetic take daily stock of the state of his feet, to prevent a lot of grief and pain later.

Poor Circulation - Peripheral vascular disease is another complication caused by diabetes. This is characterized by hardening of the arteries and resulting poor blood circulation. This condition is medically called atherosclerosis. The constricted and partially clogged arteries are unable to carry adequate oxygen-carrying blood to all parts of the body. The poor oxygen level causes a significant impairment of the healing process causing foot complications like fungal infections, ulcers and gangrene. The skin of the feet also becomes dry and swollen due to the poor circulation.

Foot Infections - If you are diabetic and have common foot infections like athlete's foot, toenail fungus, calluses, ingrown toenails and cold sores, you should seek immediate medical treatment. If you ignore them and delay getting treatment, they may develop into serious infections that could be life threatening.

DIABETIC FOOT NATURAL CARE & PREVENTION

A healthy lifestyle coupled with some preventive measures will help you to deal with diabetic feet in a better way. Discussed below are some safe and natural diabetic foot care measures that will help you a great deal in managing this disease much effectively.

Footwear - Selecting the right footwear is top-priority when dealing with a diabetic. Your podiatrist or diabetes specialist would be able to recommend the right type of shoes that will be both comfortable and safe for your feet. Orthotic shoes are usually recommended for diabetic feet since such shoes are specially designed to protect feet from heat, abrasion and pressure. Whatever your decision, you should end up with shoes that have a wide and high space in the toe area and removable insoles to adjust heel pressure and flexibility.

Foot Examination - You should make it a point to examine your feet daily for any visible cuts, sores, swelling, redness, patches or minor injuries. This process should be a vital and integral part of your daily routine. This is of extreme importance because your feet have already lost a good deal of their normal sensitivity, and so you may not be able to perceive small injuries. You can examine your feet all over with the help of a family member if required.

Prompt Treatment - Any minor cuts or blisters which take more than two days to heal should receive prompt medical attention. Do not ignore the injury as it could give rise to serious feet complications. You could also use natural home remedies to treat such infections the first time around. Essential oils like lavender, bergamot and tea tree oil are very effective for treating such wounds. However, if the cut refuses to heal, you need to see your physician.

Wash Your Feet Daily - Another extremely important measure for a diabetic is keeping the feet clean. Washing them with lukewarm water and a mild anti-bacterial soap every day is a great way to maintain the hygiene of your feet. Avoid using very hot water since it has a drying effect, stripping off the skin's natural oils. After washing your feet, dry them thoroughly and gently, especially between the toes. Follow this up by dusting some talcum powder over your feet to absorb any residual moisture.

Moisturize Your Feet - Moisturizing diabetic feet is a vital requirement especially during the winter months. Since diabetic feet are naturally prone to dryness, moisturizing them daily, both the upper and the lower side can be beneficial for the skin. However, do not rub lotion or cream between your toes.

Always Wear Shoes and Socks- Since diabetic feet are highly injury-prone, it is important to keep your feet covered and protected. Wearing shoes and socks prevents injury by external objects. But you should make it a point to first check the inside of your shoes thoroughly for any foreign objects like stone chips. This will keep you from getting hurt. Choose socks made from natural fabrics like cotton and wool as these help your feet to breathe. Socks also help to prevent the occurrence of painful sores and blisters. Avoid tight-fitting elastic socks and nylon hosiery as they are notorious for impairing blood circulation. Choose comfortable shoes that provide protection to your feet.

Protection From Heat And Cold - Always make sure that you protect your feet from exposure to hot or cold temperatures or objects. For example, never walk barefooted on beaches or pavements. Diabetic feet should never be left uncovered. Keep away from fires, very hot water, heating pads and radiators. Similarly, avoid exposing your feet to cold weather or snow. Wear thick padded socks during winter to protect your feet from frostbite. Always wear seamless socks at bedtime; sleeping bare-footed during cold winter nights is dangerous.

Trim Your Toenails - Always trim your toenails with a proper nail clipper. Never use scissors or any other sharp objects to cut your nails as these may cause injury. Cut the nails straight across and evenly. Do not cut your nails too close to the nail bed. Ask for help if you have difficulty trimming them. File the rough and sharp edges round the corners to prevent ingrowing toenails. Diabetic must remember to keep regular appointments with their podiatrist to get your nails trimmed. May not sound important but this simple step can often save diabetics from potential amputations.

Be Active - Move your feet as much as possible. Mobility increases blood flow to your feet. If you have to sit for more than a few minutes, elevate your legs on a low stool. Keep rotating your ankles from side to side and wiggle your toes for a minute or two every now and then, to keep the blood flowing while you are sitting. Change your position regularly. You also need to shift your posture from time to time so that your feet are in movement.

Exercise - Exercise works wonders for your feet. Regular exercise tones your joints and muscles and keeps your blood circulation healthy. Choose exercises that focus on improving blood circulation to your feet. Exercise also helps to control blood sugar level in your body. However, do not over-exert yourself to prevent muscle or ligament sprains and other injuries. Always wear good athletic footwear to protect your feet from injuries while working out. Cardiovascular exercises like swimming, brisk walking and cycling are good for diabetic patients. Avoid jogging, running and other high-impact exercises to prevent unnecessary pressure on your feet.

Quit Smoking - Smoking can tip the balance for diabetic patients. It could precipitate serious nerve and blood vessel damage. By quitting smoking you will prevent many serious complications of diabetic foot injury

Control Your Sugar Level - This is the most important factor in managing this disease. Good glucose control can prevent a whole bunch of complications. The best and proven way is to follow a sensible diabetic diet, take proper medication and check your blood sugar regularly. This will enable you to know the level of control you have achieved and what modifications you need. Keep to a strict follow-up schedule with your physician, and promptly report any new developments or problems. This will allow him to guide you properly and safely, thus lowering your risk of leg, nervous, kidney and eye damage.

Maintain Weight - If you are diabetic and have foot disease it is of the highest importance to maintain an ideal body weight Obesity can produce severe pressure on your feet and leg joints resulting in joint injuries and feet exhaustion. Weight reduction may be a challenging goal with diabetes, but it is definitely achievable with time and patience. There are many helpful weight reducing diabetic diets that you can follow, but it is advisable to consult your physician before starting any diet in the interests of your health.

Observing these guidelines and precautions will make managing diabetes an easier task for you. Diabetes is doubtless a serious disease, but with a regulated and healthy lifestyle, you can manage it and live normally for many years, without developing diabetic foot disease.