DIABETES AND FOOT CARE

As a Foot Health Practitioner I come across many foot care issues. The age ranges of people needing foot care services ranges from children to elderly , each come with their common age related problems.

One thing I do find though that working with the majority of elderly patients, I encounter many diabetic patients.

WHY DO I NEED REGULAR FOOT CARE?

There are reasons why a person with diabetes needs regular foot care, one of them being that a professional can spot the signs of potential problems that may other wise go unnoticed.

About half of all people with diabetes have some kind of diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage). You can have nerve damage in any part of your body, but nerves in your feet and legs are most often affected. Nerve damage can cause you to lose feeling in your feet.

For this reason it is important for you not walk around in bare feet as you may not notice what you've stood on which in turn may lead to your foot becoming infected and even resulting in amputation. There is a high risk of infection and ulcers developing with any cut or abrasions to the skin. Regular visits to your diabetes nurse will test your sensitivity, check your foot health and discuss ways you can manage your health.

It is important that you have regular nail cutting as this again can cause concerns for your health. I have often been into visit people who have left their nails too long before cutting and have created further issues as the nails have become long and uneven, posing a potential risk of scratching skin, impacting the nails, increased risk of fungal infections.

SO WHAT CAN i DO TO HELP MYSELF?

1. Inspect your feet daily.

2. Bathe feet in lukewarm, never hot, water.

3. Be gentle when bathing your feet.

4. Moisturize your feet but not between your toes.

5. Cut nails carefully.

6. Never treat corns or calluses yourself.

7. Wear clean, dry socks.

I offer this foot care service to take care of your foot care needs. Please get in touch if you would like any further advice on how I can help you maintain your foot health.