Diabetes does some interesting things to the body, but one of the worst things it does is it messes with the brain and the nerves that care for our feet. The brain needs to be able to send messages and receive messages to and from the feet.
Chronic Glucose levels can damage the Nervous System. The nerves are what sends and receives the messages from the brain about pain. The Nervous System receives messages from our environment and how the body is affected by it through our five senses. Source: http://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/diabetes/how-diabetes-affects-the-feet.htm The greatest problem then occurs when your feet as a Diabetic can not send the information about pain to your brain and the environmental information needed to detect problems with the feet, this is caused to over exposure of glucose to the Nervous System.
Things that may seem minor to most people such as scrapes, cuts, blisters, or cracking in the skin are not minor things to those of us with Diabetes. A staggering 60% of all amuputations bellow the knee are from People with Diabetes.
Along with Nervous System issues we also have Peripheral Vascular Disease for 1 out of 3 people with Diabetes over the age of 50. This means narrowing and stiffeness of the arteries in the legs making a lack of oxygen and blood flow and nutrients to affected area's in the lower extremeties. This makes it harder for a Diabetic person to be able to heal. This is also called Peripheral Artery Disease.
This all leads to Diabetic Neuropathy or numbness in the feet and legs making it harder to tell if you have been injured or have any unusual cuts or skin problems in your feet and legs.
How you should care for your feet being Diabetic: Every day you should check your feet for any abnormalities, cracking between your toes and on your heel, bottom of your feet for cuts and blisters on your entire feet.
Make sure your doctor checks your feet on a routine basis as well, if they dont then ask them to because it is part of your regular check up and the sooner you find an injury on your foot the faster you can have treatment for it. Remember you run a risk of it becoming amputated if left untreated.
1. Take care of your Diabetes
2. Check your feet Daily
3. Make sure you get an annual foot examination by your physician
4. Stay Active it gives a better chance for good circulation in your legs feet and for your heart.
5. Trim your toe nails if you can or have a Foot Care Professional do it.
6. Wear Shoes and Socks
7. Protect your feet from Hot and Cold as they affect the blood vessels in your feet and your circulation.
8. Keep blood flowing to your feet and legs by not crossing your legs, moving your feet and legs several
times a day, and put your feet up if you can when sitting.
9. Make a routine to check your feet at the same time daily so you will get into a habbit of it.
After bathing or showering make sure your feet are dried off good especially in between the toes. Make sure you moisturize them with skin care lotion to maintain a non dry skin to prevent cracking in the skin.
Remembering it is up to each one of us to insure that we still are up and going, taking care of our feet is a priority for us as Diabetics. Follow a daily routine of check our feet and staying active will help us to maintain better foot care. There are shoes and socks for Diabetics that make foot care easier.
We are together on this and as long as we stay in a community that supports each other and offers information for each other then we can stay healthier and improve our lives.
If you have a story a comment or something you would like to share with me please contact me at diabetic.day2013@gmail.com. I cant wait to hear from you.
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