Foot Care in Diabetics
Diabetes can cause serious foot problems such as ulcers and infections in cases where foot care is neglected. Small ulcers on the feet cause serious risks and may take time to heal. In addition, advanced ulcers can turn into serious body infections and carry the risk of amputation. However, it is possible to prevent this problem if diabetic patients follow the recommended diabetes treatment plans. In addition, diabetics should not interrupt their treatment and should see a doctor regularly. At the same time, as long as personal care and regular controls are not disrupted, the development of problems can be prevented.
What Are Diabetic Foot Symptoms?
Diabetic foot is a type of disease that progresses slowly over time. For this reason, it is not common to show symptoms in the first stage. If the blood sugar is irregular and uncontrolled, the structure of the capillaries in the feet is disrupted. In the advanced period, if narrowing and blockages develop, pain begins to be felt in the legs while walking.
The diabetic patient should consult a doctor and get detailed information about foot care. If the patient does not take the necessary foot care, does not use appropriate shoes and does not pay attention to the blood sugar regulation requirements, diabetic foot ulcers develop.
How Is Diabetic Foot Care Done?
Microbes penetrate the wounds and cracks caused by dryness in diabetic feet and a serious infection occurs in the whole foot. For this reason, the sick person should regularly wash their feet with warm water and soap and dry them in detail. One of the things to consider at this point is to keep the toes dry.
In order to prevent cracks in the feet, a doctor should be consulted and a moisturizing cream with appropriate content should be applied to the feet. Keeping the area wet after applying cream easily causes fungus formation in this area. These fungi cause severe diabetic foot ulcers. For this reason, the feet should be dried with the help of a cotton towel so that there is no wet place. In addition, the feet should not stay in water for a long time and should not be washed in hot water. It is also recommended to massage the feet to prevent joint stiffness.
Another issue that diabetic patients should pay attention to is the care of toenails. Diabetic toenails should be trimmed regularly and nails should not be extended. In addition, in order to avoid ingrown nails, it is necessary not to separate the nails from the flesh and cut them straight. Other details that diabetes patients should consider are as follows;
- Diabetes patients should not walk barefoot, closed-toe slippers should be preferred.
- If calluses are seen, medical treatment should be performed. The use of razors, scissors or acidic calluses should be avoided.
- Shoe selection is very important in diabetic patients. Avoid using shoes that fit perfectly, small or hitting the feet. Air-soled soft sports shoes should be preferred instead of hard, narrow shoes with pointed toes. It will be correct to determine the pressure points of the foot with the doctor's advice and to choose shoes accordingly.
- Care should be taken that the socks are not stitched and cotton socks with high air permeability should be preferred. Stitched socks that cause scar formation should be avoided.