Top 6 Tips for Diabetic Foot Patients to avoid Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Diabetic foot problem for Diabetics:
Foot problems are common in people with diabetes, from insensitivity to inflammation and wound infection, and in some cases, it is up to amputation of fingers or feet, so diabetic foot care is a top priority for diabetics.
How can diabetes affect the foot?
Over time, diabetes may damage the nerves, it is also called diabetic neuropathy, and the patient loses the feeling of trauma or any foot pain, which can lead to cuts and ulcers, these wounds and ulcers could be infected with bacteria and infection.
Diabetes also reduces the amount of blood pumping in the foot, and this lack of blood flow makes it difficult to heal the wounds or eliminate bacterial inflammation or infection, and sometimes the infection may lead to diabetic foot gangrene.
Gangrene and diabetic foot ulcers that do not improve with treatment can lead to amputations of the whole toe, foot or part of the leg, and amputation may be important to prevent gangrene from spreading to the rest of the body and save the patient's life.
Good foot care is very important to prevent gangrene and diabetic foot ulcers as nerve damage caused by diabetes can lead to changes in the shape of the foot such as hammer fingers, bone infections and foot joints that lead to dysfunction and bone fractures and the foot becomes a strange non-functional form.
There are some Preventive Measures to Prevent Diabetic Foot Complications:
- Wash the feet every day and refresh them thoroughly.
- Wash the feet with soap in warm water, not hot, and test the water to make sure it is not too hot, using the thermometer or elbow to test the warmth of the water.
- Avoid soaking the feet because the skin will be very dry.
- After washing and drying the feet thoroughly, the talc powder or anti-fungal powder is placed between the toes to help prevent infection.
-The foot skin must be kept smooth by rubbing a thin layer of cream on the tops and bottoms of the feet, but not placed between the toes because moisture may cause infection between the fingers.
- Avoid walking barefoot as this leads to foot injury without the patient feels that he is harming himself, the shoe from inside must be checked before wearing it, to ensure that it is free of gravel or other objects.
- It is necessary to wear socks and choose clean socks lightly lined and suited to the size of the foot so that they are not narrow or very wide.
- It is necessary to wear shoes that fit well and have an appropriate size to protect the feet, preferably medical shoes, sports shoes, and vinyl or plastic shoes are not recommended because they do not stretch and do not allow for breathing.
- Trimming nails with the help of a companion, trimming them after washing and drying feet using nail clippers, nail corners are not cut to prevent skin cutting and to keep nails from growing under the skin.
- Protect the feet from the hot and cold ground by wearing shoes on the beach and the hot pavement, and put sunscreen on the tops of the feet to prevent sunburn.
- Keep your feet away from heaters and open fires, and avoid putting a hot water bottle or heating pad on your feet.
- Wear socks in bed when sleeping in case of feeling cold in the feet.
- Keep the blood flowing to the feet by putting your feet in front of you when sitting.
- Avoid wearing tight socks.
- Pay attention to physical activity such as walking, yoga, swimming, and cycling.
- Stop smoking.
- Visit the doctor periodically to examine the feet, as it is possible to detect early signs of diabetic foot ulcers.
