Diabetes: Tips on leg and foot care to avoid complications

Diabetes: Tips on leg and foot care to avoid complications

It is important that diabetes sufferers be aware of the possible risks that may affect their overall health, beginning with the feet and legs.  To be well informed is to be well prepared.  Once you know more about the possible consequence of diabetes, you can come up with the necessary action plan to prevent the consequence from becoming a reality.  The following paragraphs will provide the necessary tips to diabetes sufferers on how to take extra special care of their feet and legs.  At most, the diabetes sufferer can at least delay the onset of serious damages.  The tips here are obtained from what I have read as well as what I myself have experienced first-hand.  I hope it serves you well too.

Look out for growth such as corns and calluses.  Do not try to cut it off.  Attempts to remove it may give rise to infections that could spread to other parts of the feet and legs.  Also, do not self-medicate.  It is better to consult a medical doctor.  Even if there is some loose skin on the feet or legs, do not peel it off.  I remembered that in my younger days, when I have a corn that grew near to my sole, I would use a corn plaster to remove it.  Now, I would not do this.  I would seek a doctor’s advise on the best possible way to remove it.  I’m afraid that should I remove it myself, the wound might not heal.  This could lead to complications and if it could not be cured, the possibility of having my leg amputated is very high.

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Is there any pain in your feet or legs?  Check that there is no swelling.  Also, check that no sores or blisters have developed.  If the pain continues without any sign of improvement, a diabetes sufferer should consult a medical doctor.  I am more aware nowadays with what my feet and legs are saying to me

To ensure that your feet and legs are taken care of, always wash in warm water.  Do not use hot water, as it may cause complication.  Make sure that the diabetic sufferer feet are always well taken care of and clean off all dirt.  Do not soak the diabetic feet in water.  Just rinsing it should be sufficient.  Thereafter, dry the feet thoroughly especially in-between the toes.  Failure to take care of the space in-between the toes could possibly lead to bacteria breeding and that may result in infection if it is not clean properly.

Diabetes sufferer will have to remember to trim their toenails.  Do not trim it too short as it might cause problem.  Previously, I have the habit of cutting my toenails as short as possible.  Sometimes, I may even draw blood in the process of cutting my nails.  Also, it is not advisable to cut the nails into a rounded edge as it will encourage in-grown toenail.  A doctor once told me that should there be in-grown toenails, they might have to do surgery on the toe to remove the nail in the affected toe.

The last tip here is that to protect the feet, a diabetes sufferer should never walk barefooted.  Always wear a pair of shoes that covers the toes as well as the whole feet.  Make sure that the shoes are a comfortable fit and is not too small that it crimps your feet or too large that there is no grip.  You will need to wear a pair of well-padded socks.  Avoid wearing sandals, especially those with an open front, as it will expose your feet.  You may inevitably kick something while walking about in a pair of sandals and might injure your toes or other parts of your feet.  So it is better to be safe than sorry by wearing shoes and socks for better protection.

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Complications of Diabetes

Just like in any other illnesses, the first thing that people need is to be informed and educated about the disease that may be prone to. In case of diabetes, extensive knowledge about this can help people who are already suffering from it to cope up and manage and can also help those who don’t have it yet to be more careful and to avoid the illness.

But, aside from having extensive knowledge on the disease such as its causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, it also pays to know if there would be related complications. This is to prepare one’s self—emotionally, physically, and emotionally—about the possibilities of coping not just with diabetes but other complications related to it as well.

There are certain factors that affect people to be prone to diabetes such as age, heredity and ethnicity. But regardless of the risk factors, the related complications would just be the same. The following are just some of the complications of diabetes that people who are prone to it must pay attention to:

1. HEART DISEASE AND STROKE. Experts say that people who have diabetes have greater risks to having coronary heart diseases and to stroke compared to those who don’t have them. In fact, these complications are the lead causes of death among diabetics all over the world. People suffering from diabetes are prone to heart diseases and stroke because the fatty deposits brought by drastic changes in the body can block the arteries and leads to heart attack. Because of lesser amount of insulin in the body compared to regular people, diabetics have higher incidence of blood clotting and can also lead to high blood pressure or hypertension.

2. DIABETIC KIDNEY DISEASE. Among people with diabetes, kidney failure is the most common complication because the blood-filtering units of the kidneys are being damaged. Once the kidney has been damaged, important proteins are being along with urine and eventually, the kidneys won’t be able to remove the waste products present in the blood anymore. The good thing is, not all diabetics experience End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESRD) which can be life threatening. To avoid this complication, you must stop smoking cigarettes and always keep the blood pressure under control at all times.

3. DIABETIC EYE DISEASE. This refers to the group of eye problems that diabetics—people with diabetes—may have as a result of the chronic disease. In worst cases, this set of eye related problems such as diabetic retinopathy, damaged vessels of the eye’s retina, cataract, cloudiness in the lens of the eyes, glaucoma, and increased fluid pressure inside the eye that is damaging to optic nerve. All of these, when not treated immediately and now monitored properly can lead to total loss of vision loss or blindness.

4. DIABETIC NEUROPATHY. Those people who are into smoking, drinking, and those who have poor control with glucose are more prone to developing neuropathy compared to those diabetics who are not into these vices and bad habits.

5. GASTROPARESIS. This disorder involves the stomach as a result of prolonged emptying. Studies show that around 20 to 30 percent of diabetics suffering from “type 1 diabetes” are more prone to this diabetes complication because it severely damages the “vagus nerve” which is responsible for keeping the food moving through person’s the digestive tract. Although it is also diagnosed among those who have “type 2 diabetes” the cases are comparatively lower.