| Diabetic amputation rates from foot infections are | | | | many people don't. |
| trending upwards in the United States. Here are some | | | | 7. Avoid tight or bulky socks. Tight socks can reduce |
| simple tips to help save these soles! | | | | circulation to you feet and bulky socks can bunch up |
| The most common reason diabetics are hospitalized in | | | | and cause a blister or sore. Check your socks before |
| the United States is foot infections. I know that's hard | | | | you put them on and remember that they do shrink |
| to believe, but true. Diabetes can be dangerous and | | | | with age. Replace them periodically. |
| devastating to your feet. The most common causes | | | | 8. Wear socks to bed. If your feet are cold, wear |
| of these foot infections are improperly cut toenails and | | | | clean socks to bed. Never use a heating pad or hot |
| poorly fitting shoes. Yes, something as simple as a visit | | | | water bottle, you can burn yourself before you realize |
| to the podiatrist to have your toenails cut and shoes | | | | it! You can warm the bed with a heating blanket, but |
| custom fitted can avoid many amputations. Sadly, the | | | | turn it off before you go to sleep! |
| amputation rate is trending upwards not down in the | | | | 9. Shake out your shoes and inspect them before you |
| United States. Add common complications of diabetes | | | | put them on. I have taken everything from a pebble, |
| like poor circulation and lack of feeling known as | | | | piece of basket and a doll house chair out of the |
| peripheral neuropathy, and you have the prescription | | | | bottom of diabetic feet after they walked on them all |
| for disaster for diabetic feet. | | | | day. Easy thing to avoid! |
| What is a diabetic to do to protect their feet from a | | | | 10. Keep your feet clean and dry. No puddle splashing |
| sore that can lead to infection and amputation? | | | | or snow drifts for your feet! |
| 1. Inspect your feet daily. If you can't see your feet, | | | | 11. Never, never, never go barefoot. Not even at home |
| have someone else look at them every day for | | | | on carpet. You can step on something easily and get |
| redness, cuts, swelling, blisters, bruising, or nail problems. | | | | an infected puncture wound. Think tacks, sewing |
| 2. Wash your feet daily. Sounds simple, but many | | | | needles, even wiry dog hair can be a problem! |
| people do not bathe their feet daily. Make sure to | | | | 12. Take care of your diabetes! Multiple studies have |
| clean in between your toes and dry them thoroughly. | | | | shown the complications of diabetes can be diminished |
| 3. Moisturize your feet daily. Again, a simple habit to get | | | | by keeping your sugars under control. Keep that |
| in to, yet most people fail to upkeep their skin every | | | | HgA1c under 6 if you can. This is hard to do by |
| day. Diabetes can cause very dry, flaky skin, so extra | | | | yourself. Work with your doctor and nutritionist for |
| moisture is needed. | | | | optimal care. Communicate often with your medical |
| 4. Cut nails very carefully, and straight across. If you | | | | team. |
| can see and reach your toes, be careful to cut your | | | | 13. Don't Smoke! Stop smoking if you do. Ever |
| toenails carefully, taking time not to nick yourself or cut | | | | cigarette decreases the circulation to your feet and |
| them too short. When in doubt, visit the podiatrist at | | | | increases your chance of a non-healing wound. |
| least every 8 to 10 weeks. The podiatrist would rather | | | | 14. Get periodic foot exams. The recommendations |
| cut your toenails for you than treat an infection caused | | | | are to have a foot exam at least once a year by your |
| by your own handiwork! | | | | doctor even if you have no foot symptioms. A trip to |
| 5. Never trim corns and calluses. And absolutely no | | | | the podiatrist is recommended at least quarterly if you |
| corn or callus remover! The package says, "Do not | | | | have neuropathy, a foot deformity, poor circulation, or |
| use if you are diabetic" for a reason. Have the | | | | have had a history of a foot ulcer. |
| podiatrist trim them when they are thickened or red. | | | | Diabetes can be life's annoyance or it can kill you. It is |
| 6. Wear clean, dry socks. And change them | | | | your choice! Take care of your feet so they will last a |
| daily.....sounds simple, but you would not believe how | | | | lifetime. |